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

see also:

on the carpet

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

The photos contained in the report appear to show the mushrooms growing out of the carpet. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

The two-dimensional fractal called the Sierpiński carpet is an example; it’s built by dividing a square into a grid of smaller squares and removing the middle square, repeatedly. — Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

Encounters with raptors and worse transpire across front porches and shag carpets. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

After the guest complained, Marshall says she was called on the carpet. — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

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
• on the 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