rug

noun

ˈrəg 

1

: lap robe

2

: a piece of thick heavy fabric that usually has a nap or pile and is used as a floor covering

3

: a floor mat of an animal pelt

a bearskin rug

4

slang : toupee sense 1

5

British : a blanket for an animal (such as a horse or dog)

Synonyms of rug

• wig
• toupee
• hairpiece

Examples of rug in a Sentence

I accidentally spilled wine on the rug.

You could tell that he was wearing a rug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stick to washable rugs with a grippy base—or add a thin rug pad underneath to prevent slipping—to keep everything secure. —Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026

Using bathroom-friendly area rugs provides insulation between your feet and the freezing floor. —Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026

By unmasking Ghostface in the very first scene of the movie and then dispatching him, Scream VI pulls the rug out from under audiences in a way that most slasher sequels could never dream of, especially this many movies in. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026

Advertisement For Alvarez, and many like him, the rug is being pulled out from under them with these reversals, says McKay. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English *rug rag, tuft, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect rugga coarse rug, Old Norse rǫgg tuft

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rug

• cut a rug
• flokati rug
• lie like a rug
• Oriental rug
• prayer rug
• pull the rug from under
• rug rat
• scatter rug
• steamer rug
• sweep (something) under the rug
• throw rug

Rhymes for rug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

rug

noun

ˈrəg 

: a piece of thick heavy fabric usually with a nap or pile used as a floor covering