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)

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

Batten notes your furniture should fully fit within the rug, or at the very least, each piece’s front legs should. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026

This 1920s hooked rug serves as a piece of American folk art and its pastoral nursery rhyme scene lends the right amount of charm. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026

This theft rug-pulls the entire star, causing the core to collapse. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

Here, Southern designers share all of their go to living room rug placement rules and shopping tips. — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 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