rug

noun

ˈrəg 

1

: lap robe

2

: a piece of thick heavy fabric that usually has a nap or pile and is used as a floor covering

3

: a floor mat of an animal pelt

a bearskin rug

4

slang : toupee sense 1

5

British : a blanket for an animal (such as a horse or dog)

see also:

pull the rug from under

Synonyms of rug

• wig
• toupee
• hairpiece

Examples of rug in a Sentence

I accidentally spilled wine on the rug.

You could tell that he was wearing a rug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Below, a list of some of our favorite early Black Friday rug deals (and their makers). — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026

In fact, the team had to bring in a second rug that was a slightly different tone than the first because there simply wasn’t enough material. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

This old Southern home on a barrier island is a four-story frame structure decorated with antiques, Asian rugs, and Tiffany lamps. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026

Bookshelves and a Persian-style rug share space with toy trucks, a purple plastic kitchen, and an easel with a basketball hoop attached to its back. — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English *rug rag, tuft, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect rugga coarse rug, Old Norse rǫgg tuft

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rug

• cut a rug
• flokati rug
• lie like a rug
• Oriental rug
• prayer rug
• pull the rug from under
• rug rat
• scatter rug
• steamer rug
• sweep (something) under the rug
• throw rug

Rhymes for rug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

rug

noun

ˈrəg 

: a piece of thick heavy fabric usually with a nap or pile used as a floor covering