carpet

noun

car·​pet ˈkär-pət 

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 verb

Phrases

on the carpet

: before an authority for censure or reproof

got called on the carpet by his boss

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 on the Web

Word had yet to reach those attending the event in the early hours of the evening, as the carpet carried on as usual. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025

Vacuum Carpets And Rugs Vacuum carpets and rugs weekly to remove food sources like dust and dead skin cells. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025

Despite its lightweight design, it's packed with power that sucks up pet hair, dust, crumbs, and other messes from hard floors and carpets. —Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

At the dark dive Le Tigre Lounge, tigers dominate the interior design, all the way down to the carpet. —Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carpet

• Brussels carpet
• call (someone) on the carpet
• carpet beetle
• carpet bomb
• carpet slipper
• carpet sweeper
• magic carpet
• red carpet
• roll out the red carpet
• sweep (something) under the carpet
• tapestry carpet

Kids Definition

carpet

noun

car·​pet ˈkär-pət 

1

: a heavy fabric used especially as a floor covering

2

: a covering like a carpet

carpet verb