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

• hairpiece
• toupee
• 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

The easy-to-care-for rug resists fading, mold, and mildew, and is machine washable. —Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Several brand new styles just dropped and are also discounted for Memorial Day, including this Wimberly Bark/Ivory rug. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 21 May 2025

Swapping an area rug for a jute design or a bulky comforter for a lightweight quilt can give your space a charming, beachy aesthetic with little effort. —Bridget Degnan, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025

Green spills from the columns and onto swirling rugs, telegraphing the act of pouring paint from top to bottom. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 May 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