carpet

[ kahr-pit ]

noun

1. a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
2. a covering of this material.
3. any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet:

   They walked on the carpet of grass.

4. any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
5. a system of such devices.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
2. Chiefly British. to reprimand.

carpet

/ ˈkɑːpɪt /

noun

1. 1. a heavy fabric for covering floors
   2. ( as modifier )

      a carpet sale

2. a covering like a carpet

   a carpet of leaves

3. on the carpet informal.
   1. before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
   2. under consideration

verb

1. to cover with or as if with a carpet
2. informal.
   to reprimand

Other Words From

• carpet·less adjective
• carpet·like adjective
• re·carpet verb (used with object)
• un·carpet·ed adjective
• well-carpet·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpet¹

1300–50; Middle English carpete cloth covering for a table, floor, bed, etc. < Middle French carpite or Medieval Latin carpīta < Italian carpita woolen bedspread < Vulgar Latin *carpīta, past participle of carpīre, for Latin carpere to pluck, card (wool)

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpet¹

C14: from Old French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from Late Latin carpeta, literally: (wool) that has been carded, from Latin carpere to pluck, card

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the carpet,
   1. before an authority or superior for an accounting of one's actions or a reprimand:

      He was called on the carpet again for his carelessness.

   2. Chiefly British. under consideration or discussion.

More idioms and phrases containing carpet

see call on the carpet ; red carpet . Also see under rug .

Example Sentences

In August, Conservative shadow minister John Glen called for "full transparency" adding: "Keir Starmer can no longer try to brush this under the carpet."

From BBC

Good, who flaunted her engagement ring on the carpet, began dating Majors months after he was arrested in New York City in March 2023 on suspicion of assaulting ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

From Los Angeles Times

But there were plenty of other stars at the show and on the red carpet.

From BBC

Palm Beach didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump when he first arrived on the scene with his purchase of Mar-a-Lago in the 1980s.

From BBC

One could argue that his evolution officially began in 2018, when he and Grimes made their debut as a couple on the Met Gala red carpet.

From Salon

Related Words

• carpeting
• rug
• tapestry