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

Upcoming in October is a historic quilt show at the Avon Congregational Church — which proudly celebrates its heritage as a church of local abolitionists. — Nora Oakes Howard, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Pictures of the disaster and cleanup hung on walls, along with quilts and art projects schoolchildren made commemorating the victims. — Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Verb

Catrielle Barnett, a rising senior at the Academy of Art University, uses quilting to explore care, survival and historical continuity. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026

There’s something to do almost every day of the week for quilting aficionados. — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 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