noun
Common
Brussels
BRUH-suhlz
Brussels (noun) means a type of thick, patterned carpet with a looped (uncut) woven pile, originally made in Brussels. Example: “The hallway was fitted with an old-fashioned brussels carpet.”
noun
1
A type of thick, patterned carpet with a looped (uncut) woven pile, originally made in Brussels.
"The hallway was fitted with an old-fashioned brussels carpet."
2
Short informal name for a Brussels sprout.
"We cooked a big Christmas dinner with turkey, stuffing, Brussels, and parsnips."
"She roasted a tray of brussels for Sunday dinner."
How to use Brussels
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLowercase "brussels" can refer to a style of looped-pile carpet or, informally, to Brussels sprouts — separate from the Belgian capital city, which is always capitalized.
Common mistake
The city name Brussels is always capitalized; the carpet and vegetable senses are usually lowercase and informal.
Common pairings
brussels carpet
roasted brussels
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The hallway was fitted with an old-fashioned _____ carpet.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Brussels” mean?
The word “Brussels” means a type of thick, patterned carpet with a looped (uncut) woven pile, originally made in Brussels. In plain terms, lowercase "brussels" can refer to a style of looped-pile carpet or, informally, to Brussels sprouts — separate from the Belgian capital city, which is always capitalized.
How do you pronounce “Brussels”?
“Brussels” is pronounced BRUH-suhlz (/ˈbɹʌsəlz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Brussels” in a sentence?
Here is “Brussels” used in a sentence: “The hallway was fitted with an old-fashioned brussels carpet.”
What part of speech is “Brussels”?
“Brussels” is a noun.
Is “Brussels” a common word?
“Brussels” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Brussels” have?
“Brussels” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a type of thick, patterned carpet with a looped (uncut) woven pile, originally made in Brussels.
Is it "brussel sprouts" or "Brussels sprouts"?
The standard form is "Brussels sprouts," with a final -s on Brussels, because the vegetable is named after the Belgian city. In speech that -s tends to disappear before "sprouts," which is why "brussel sprouts" is such a common misspelling. Informally, the vegetable can even be shortened to just "Brussels."
What is the difference between a Brussels carpet and a Wilton carpet?
A Brussels carpet is woven with a looped pile: the loops are left uncut, giving a firm, slightly ribbed surface. A Wilton-style carpet is made in a similar way but has its loops cut, producing a softer, velvet-like pile. The looped, uncut pile is the defining feature of a Brussels.
Should Brussels be capitalized when you write about Brussels sprouts?
Traditionally yes, because the name comes from the city of Brussels. Many modern dictionaries and style guides also accept lowercase "brussels sprouts," treating it like other place-derived food names such as "french fries." The capital B remains the safer choice in formal writing.
Is Brussels singular or plural?
Despite ending in -s, Brussels is not a plural form; the -s is simply part of the name, so as a carpet name it behaves as an ordinary singular noun ("a Brussels carpet"). As an informal word for Brussels sprouts, however, it is normally treated as plural: "Are there any Brussels left?"
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