carpet

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noun car·pet \ ˈkär-pət \

Definition of carpet

1 :a heavy often tufted fabric used as a floor covering; also :a floor covering made of this fabric

2 :a surface or layer resembling or suggesting a carpet

—

carpet

transitive verb

— on the carpet

:before an authority for censure or reproof

got called on the carpet by his boss

See carpet defined for English-language learners

See carpet defined for kids

Examples of carpet in a Sentence

We bought a new carpet for the bedroom.
Which brand of carpet did you choose?
The ground was covered by a carpet of leaves.

Recent Examples of carpet from the Web

It could be described as perfect alligator habitat, with dense carpets of vegetation floating on most of the water's surface.

— ben raines , AL.com, "Stranded in the Delta with nothing but time and a camera," 30 Aug. 2017
Before vacuums, the standard technique for cleaning a rug was to hang it up outside and beat the dust and grime out of it with a paddle (known as a carpet beater).

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "The Vacuum Cleaner Was Harder to Invent Than You Might Think," 30 Aug. 2017
Most artists at the VMAs will admit they’re experiencing inappropriate bodily functions on the red carpet.

— diana tsui, The Cut, "Lorde Didn’t Let the Flu Keep Her From the VMAs," 27 Aug. 2017
Upstairs, in the women’s section, the carpet was spattered with patches of blood.

— mujib mashal, New York Times, "Graves Fill an Afghan Mosque’s Garden After a Terrorist Attack," 26 Aug. 2017
Detectives noted that there were hundreds of roaches crawling on the home’s ceilings, walls and floors; mold covered the carpets in the bedrooms; and mice were running around the kitchen.

— by jessica de leon, miamiherald, "He sold drugs from filthy Florida home filled with roaches, rodents and kids, cops say," 24 Aug. 2017
Army Reserve Second Lieutenant Ronald Reagan walked the red carpet in uniform with wife Jane Wyman on his arm.

— richard sandomir, vanityfair.com, "The Pride of the Yankees and the Night the Lights Went Out in Hollywood," 18 Aug. 2017
Under a canopy of tall trees and shrubs, designer Weaner created a leafy carpet of native ground covers, like groundsel, Canada anemone and heuchera.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Gardener learns to work with Mother Nature, instead of against her," 12 Aug. 2017
A LUSH, LOW-EFFORT PLAN Under a canopy of tall trees and shrubs, designer Weaner created a leafy carpet of native ground covers, like groundsel, Canada anemone and heuchera.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Gardener learns to work with Mother Nature, instead of against her," 12 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carpet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of carpet

Middle English, from Medieval French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from carpire to pluck, modification of Latin carpere to pluck — more at harvest

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First Known Use: 15th century

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CARPET Defined for English Language Learners

carpet

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noun

Definition of carpet for English Language Learners

: a heavy fabric cover for a floor
: a thick covering : a thick layer of something

CARPET Defined for Kids

carpet

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noun car·pet \ ˈkär-pət \

Definition of carpet for Students

1 :a heavy woven fabric used especially as a floor covering

2 :a covering like a carpet

a carpet of grass

carpet

verb

Definition of carpet for Students

carpeted; carpeting

:to cover with or as if with a carpet

… a maple tree … was carpeting the bank with crimson leaves.
—Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for carpet Spanish Central: Translation of carpet Nglish: Translation of carpet for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of carpet for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carpet

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carpet

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carpet

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carpet

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carpet

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carpet

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carpet

Definition of carpet

carpet

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Definition of carpet for English Language Learners

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