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)

see also:

pull the rug from under

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

Since then Parker has departed slightly from her original squiggle-core ceramics to design a jewelry collection, a rug collection, a Lulu and Georgia furniture collection, and—as of today—a 12-piece lighting collection with the same retailer. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026

When transitioning from hard flooring to rugs or carpets, the system automatically adjusts suction levels and modifies its brush roll behavior to maximize particle pickup while preventing hair entanglements around the main rollers. — New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026

Helen knitted and watched women’s basketball on television, Rocky read a schoolbook about the Industrial Revolution in England, and the Schipperke slept on the rug by the fireplace. — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Its dual spinning mops lift automatically over carpets, while powerful suction pulls embedded dirt out of rugs and hard floors. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 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