blanket
BLANG-kiht
Blanket (noun) means a large piece of soft, thick fabric used for warmth, typically on a bed or wrapped around the body. Example: “He wrapped a thick blanket around his shoulders and sat by the fire.”
noun
1
A large piece of soft, thick fabric used for warmth, typically on a bed or wrapped around the body.
"He wrapped a thick blanket around his shoulders and sat by the fire."
"She pulled the blanket up to her chin and fell asleep."
"They spread a picnic blanket out on the grass."
2
A covering layer of something, often used figuratively.
"A blanket of cloud hung over the valley all afternoon."
"The hills lay under a thick blanket of mist."
"A blanket of snow covered the fields overnight."
adj
1
Applying generally to every case, without exceptions.
"The teacher said a blanket rule about homework would be unfair to some pupils."
"Experts warned against making blanket statements about how teenagers use their phones."
"The company issued a blanket ban on personal phone use during shifts."
verb
1
To cover something completely, as if with a blanket.
"Autumn leaves blanketed the path, so we could hardly see the stones."
"Snow blanketed the village and everything fell quiet."
"Thick fog blanketed the city by morning."
How to use blanket
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warm covering for a bed, or figuratively any covering layer — and, as an adjective, something that applies to everything without exception.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
blanket ban
security blanket
blanket of snow
wrap in a blanket
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Word forms
- Plural
- blankets
- Third person singular
- blankets
- Past tense
- blanketed, blanketted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wrapped a thick _____ around his shoulders and sat by the fire.
Etymology
From Old French blanchet, a diminutive of blanc ("white"), originally naming a white woollen cloth.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “blanket” mean?
The word “blanket” means a large piece of soft, thick fabric used for warmth, typically on a bed or wrapped around the body. In plain terms, a warm covering for a bed, or figuratively any covering layer — and, as an adjective, something that applies to everything without exception.
How do you pronounce “blanket”?
“Blanket” is pronounced BLANG-kiht (/ˈblæŋ.kɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “blanket” in a sentence?
Here is “blanket” used in a sentence: “She pulled the blanket up to her chin and fell asleep.”
What part of speech is “blanket”?
Depending on how it is used, “blanket” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “blanket” come from?
The word “blanket” comes from Old French. From Old French blanchet, a diminutive of blanc ("white"), originally naming a white woollen cloth.
Is “blanket” a common word?
“Blanket” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “blanket” have?
“Blanket” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large piece of soft, thick fabric used for warmth, typically on a bed or wrapped around the body.
What is a blanket statement?
A blanket statement is a claim applied generally to every case, with no allowance for exceptions — 'nobody reads anymore,' for example. The phrase uses blanket's adjective sense, 'applying to all cases without exceptions,' and it is usually critical, implying the claim is an overgeneralization. Blanket ban, blanket rule, and blanket approval work the same way.
What is the difference between a blanket and a quilt?
A blanket is a single large piece of soft, thick fabric used for warmth on a bed or wrapped around the body. A quilt is made of two layers of fabric with padding stitched between them, the stitching typically forming a decorative pattern. A comforter is similar to a quilt but plainer and usually thicker.
Can blanket be used as a verb?
Yes — to blanket something is to cover it completely, as if with a blanket: 'snow blanketed the town,' 'fog blanketed the coast.' The verb is especially common in weather description. Related is the set phrase 'blanket coverage,' meaning reporting that covers an event completely.
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