blanket

[ blang-kit ]

noun

1. a large, rectangular piece of soft fabric, often with bound edges, used especially for warmth as a bed covering.
2. a similar piece of fabric used as a covering for a horse, dog, etc.
3. the chief garment traditionally worn by some American Indians.
4. any extended covering or layer:

   a blanket of snow.

   Synonyms: coating, overlay, mantel, coat, cover

5. Printing.
   1. (in a press for offset printing) the rubber-covered cylinder to which an inked impression is transferred from the plate for transfer directly to the paper.
   2. (in a press for letterpress printing) the resilient covering on the cylinder against which the paper is pressed in printing.
6. a thick roll or strip of material for thermal insulation.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with or as with a blanket:

   wild flowers blanketing the hillside.

2. to obscure or obstruct; interfere with; overpower (usually followed by out ):

   An electrical storm blanketed out the radio program.

3. to toss (someone) in a blanket, as in fraternity hazing.
4. Nautical. (of a vessel) to take wind from the sails of (another vessel) by passing closely to windward.

adjective

1. covering or intended to cover a large group or class of things, conditions, situations, etc.:

   a blanket proposal; a blanket indictment.

blanket

/ ˈblæŋkɪt /

noun

1. a large piece of thick cloth for use as a bed covering, animal covering, etc, enabling a person or animal to retain natural body heat
2. a concealing cover or layer, as of smoke, leaves, or snow
3. a rubber or plastic sheet wrapped round a cylinder, used in offset printing to transfer the image from the plate, stone, or forme to the paper
4. physics a layer of a fertile substance placed round the core of a nuclear reactor as a reflector or absorber and often to breed new fissionable fuel
5. modifier applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc

   blanket insurance against loss, injury, and theft

6. born on the wrong side of the blanket informal.
   illegitimate

verb

1. to cover with or as if with a blanket; overlie
2. to cover a very wide area, as in a publicity campaign; give blanket coverage
3. usually foll by out to obscure or suppress

   the storm blanketed out the TV picture

4. nautical to prevent wind from reaching the sails of (another sailing vessel) by passing to windward of it

Other Words From

• blanket·less adjective
• blanket·like adjective
• un·blanket·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blanket¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to blanc white ( blank ) + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of blanket¹

C13: from Old French blancquete , from blanc ; see blank

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. born on the wrong side of the blanket, born out of wedlock.

More idioms and phrases containing blanket

see security blanket ; wet blanket .

Example Sentences

She notes, "For me, if I have the absolute worst day or I'm sick as a dog — as the expression goes — the thing that makes me feel best is to go home and literally climb into bed under a blanket with my dog."

From Salon

A few days ago, Nasa shared satellite images of a blanket of smog engulfing parts of northern India and neighbouring Pakistan.

From BBC

A blanket commutation would realize Mr. Biden’s anti-death-penalty stance and move the United States further along the path to abolition.

From Slate

To offer one other example, Biden could learn from what Republican Illinois Gov. George Ryan did in 2003 when he emptied his state’s death row by issuing a blanket commutation to all 167 inmates.

From Slate

If the offensive line can’t keep Stafford better protection, however, and if Stafford can’t do a better job of adjusting to the blanket coverage of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, this team could be in trouble.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bury
• coat
• envelop
• obscure
• surround