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

Jeanne Lanvin commissioned Fayet to create rugs for her apartment, and Paul Poiret designed Fayet’s daughter’s wedding dress. — Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026

Felt—used for everything from clothing to rugs to insulation for yurts, and already hard to find in Soviet times—gave way to Chinese imports, and then, as purchasing power improved, to brands like Prada and Gucci. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026

Folks have paid into those programs and can't afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

All have a sleek minimal feel, with jute rugs and linen cushions adding just a touch of colour to the all-neutral palette. — Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 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