quilt

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwilt 

1

a

: a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (such as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs

b

: patchwork quilt sense 1

2

: something that is quilted or resembles a quilt

a quilt of houses and parks

quilt

2 of 2

verb

quilted; quilting; quilts

transitive verb

1

a

: to fill, pad, or line like a quilt

b(1)

: to stitch, sew, or cover with lines or patterns like those used in quilts

(2)

: to stitch (designs) through layers of cloth

c

: to fasten between two pieces of material

2

: to stitch or sew in layers with padding in between

intransitive verb

1

: to make quilts

2

: to do quilted work

quilter noun

Examples of quilt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The agent’s story peters out at the end; Simon photographs a quilt made out of T-shirts from his many law-enforcement jobs which his girlfriend commissioned for him from Etsy. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Then fold the quilt up for putting back in storage—preferably in a different configuration so the quilt doesn’t develop creases. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

Each seat also has quilted leather inserts with the tuner’s trademark shell pattern. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows are emerald rows of Carménère quilting golden hills. — Mark Johanson, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quilte mattress, quilt, from Anglo-French coilte, from Latin culcita mattress

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing quilt

• crazy quilt
• patchwork quilt

Rhymes for quilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• lilt
• milt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt
• wilt

Kids Definition

quilt

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwilt 

: a bed cover made of two layers of cloth with a filling of wool, cotton, or down held together by patterned stitching

quilt

2 of 2 verb

: to construct (as by padding, covering with patterns, or sewing layers together) like a quilt

quilter noun