carpet
KAH-piht
Carpet (noun) means a thick woven fabric covering used on floors. Example: “The baby crawled across the thick carpet and reached for her toy.”
noun
1
A thick woven fabric covering used on floors.
"The baby crawled across the thick carpet and reached for her toy."
"They chose a soft grey carpet for the living room."
"The hallway carpet was worn thin from years of foot traffic."
2
A thick layer of something covering a surface, resembling a carpet.
"In spring, a carpet of bluebells spread across the woodland floor."
"A carpet of snow covered the garden when we woke up."
"A carpet of fallen leaves covered the path."
verb
1
To cover a floor with carpet.
"We plan to carpet the bedrooms next month, once the painting is finished."
"The landlord had carpeted the whole flat in a cheap beige colour."
"They carpeted the stairs to make them quieter."
2
Informally, to scold someone severely.
"The head teacher carpeted the pupils for running in the corridors."
"I expect my boss to carpet me for forgetting the meeting."
"The manager carpeted him for missing the deadline."
How to use carpet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft floor covering made of woven or tufted fabric, or figuratively any thick covering layer; as a verb it can also mean "to tell someone off."
UK vs US
"To carpet someone" meaning to scold them is mainly British usage.
Common pairings
wall-to-wall carpet
carpet of snow
roll out the carpet
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Word forms
- Plural
- carpets
- Third person singular
- carpets
- Past tense
- carpeted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baby crawled across the thick _____ and reached for her toy.
Etymology
From Old French carpite, tracing back through Medieval Latin to an Armenian word for a woven rug — the trade route for early carpets left its mark on the word itself.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “carpet” mean?
The word “carpet” means a thick woven fabric covering used on floors. In plain terms, a soft floor covering made of woven or tufted fabric, or figuratively any thick covering layer; as a verb it can also mean "to tell someone off.".
How do you pronounce “carpet”?
“Carpet” is pronounced KAH-piht (/ˈkɑɹ.pət/ in IPA).
How do you use “carpet” in a sentence?
Here is “carpet” used in a sentence: “They chose a soft grey carpet for the living room.”
What part of speech is “carpet”?
Depending on how it is used, “carpet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “carpet” come from?
The word “carpet” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French carpite, tracing back through Medieval Latin to an Armenian word for a woven rug — the trade route for early carpets left its mark on the word itself.
Is “carpet” a common word?
“Carpet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “carpet” have?
“Carpet” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick woven fabric covering used on floors.
What is the difference between a carpet and a rug?
A carpet is a thick woven floor covering, and in common use it often fits wall to wall or covers most of a floor. A rug is usually smaller, loose, and placed over part of a floor rather than fixed in place. Both provide a soft covering, but rugs can be moved and carpets are often fitted.
What is the difference between carpet and carpeting?
Carpet can refer to a single piece of floor covering or to the material in general, while carpeting usually refers to carpet material considered as a whole or the act of laying it. You might buy a carpet for one room but order new carpeting for the whole house. The meanings overlap closely.
