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

• wig

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

Sunlight—Rearrange your rugs and furniture periodically to allow the floor to age evenly. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

Making its debut at IFA this year, the Roborock Curv 2 Pro can raise itself even higher than its predecessor to clear plushy carpets or lower itself down for a better clean on low-pile rugs. —PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025

Bold geometric motifs, warm earthy hues like ochre, avocado green, and deep browns, plus textured fabrics such as velvet, shag rugs, and macramé wall hangings all add a sense of playfulness and comfort. —Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025

Anthropologie comes in clutch with a solution, though, in the form of a mouse pad that looks like a costly Persian rug. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025

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