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

Her elegant primary bedroom boasted a dressing area that was the picture of ’40s-movie-star luxury, complete with plush rugs, dramatic arches, and, of course, plenty of mirrors. — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026

All have a sleek minimal feel, with jute rugs and linen cushions adding just a touch of colour to the all-neutral palette. — Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 2026

Prices range from $2,400 for a 3-by-5-foot rug to $28,800 for a 12-by-15-foot rug, shoppable on Beni Rugs’ website and at their showrooms in Marrakech and New York City in TriBeCa. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Take Sophie Rowell, founder of Côte de Folk, who, in one project, recently enveloped walls and floors in a deep olive green, adding a sense of tactility by forgoing hard flooring and rugs in favor of wall-to-wall carpet. — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 10 Oct. 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