rug
Americannoun
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a thick fabric for covering part of a floor, often woven of wool and often having an oblong shape with a border design.
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the treated skin of an animal, used as a floor covering.
a bear rug.
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Chiefly British. a piece of thick, warm cloth, used as a coverlet, lap robe, etc.
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Slang. toupee; hairpiece.
idioms
noun
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a floor covering, smaller than a carpet and made of thick wool or of other material, such as an animal skin
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a blanket, esp one used as a wrap or lap robe for travellers
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slang a wig
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to betray, expose, or leave defenceless
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rug
1545–55; < Old Norse rǫgg wool, long hairs; compare Norwegian rugga covering of coarse wool, Swedish rugg coarse hair
Explanation
A rug is something made of woven fabric that covers a floor. If your downstairs neighbor is complaining about the noise, try buying a rug. A rug is smaller than a carpet, which usually covers a room's entire floor — rugs leave parts of the floor exposed. Some are thick and dense, providing a cushiony area for walking or sitting. Rug also informally means "wig or toupee," so you could say, "Did you see that guy's terrible blonde rug?" And if you want to pretend something didn't happen, you'll have to colloquially "sweep it under the rug," or hide it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A RUG Made of narrow strips of cotton cloth.
From Construction Work for Rural and Elementary Schools by McGaw, Virginia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.