# carpet

/ˈkɑɹpət/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carpet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. floor covering

noun · CEFR A2

a thick, heavy fabric used to cover the entire floor of a room.

For teachers: a heavy textile floor covering, typically made of wool or synthetic fibres, intended to cover a floor surface completely.

- We decided to install a soft grey carpet in the bedroom to make it feel warmer.
- The interior designer recommended a high-traffic nylon carpet for the hallway to ensure durability against constant wear and tear.

### 2. a thick layer

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a thick layer of something that covers the ground, like leaves or flowers.

For teachers: a thick, uniform layer of something covering a surface, often used figuratively for natural phenomena.

- A thick carpet of red and yellow leaves covered the forest floor in October.
- By dawn, a lush carpet of bluebells had transformed the woodland into a vibrant sea of colour.

### 3. to cover a floor

verb · CEFR A2

to put a carpet down on a floor.

For teachers: to install a textile floor covering in a room or building.

- It will be much quieter once we carpet the stairs and the upstairs hallway.
- The landlord agreed to carpet the entire apartment before the new tenants moved in next month.

### 4. to cover completely

verb · CEFR B2

to cover a surface with a thick layer of something.

For teachers: to cover a surface extensively or completely, as if with a carpet.

- Snow began to carpet the fields as the temperature dropped in the evening.
- Volcanic ash began to carpet the surrounding villages, forcing residents to stay indoors for safety.

### 5. to reprimand

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to tell someone officially that they have done something wrong.

For teachers: to reprimand or scold someone officially; derived from the image of being called onto the carpet of a superior's office.

- The manager carpeted him for being late to work three times in one week.
- The junior clerk was carpeted by the senior partner after the accounting error was discovered during the annual audit.

### 6. pubic hair

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a woman's pubic hair.

For teachers: a slang and often vulgar term referring to female pubic hair.

- The comedian made a crude joke about the color of her carpet matching her hair.
- The script was edited to remove several vulgar references to 'the carpet' that were deemed inappropriate for a general audience.

## Examples

- We need to clean the living room carpet.
- The hotel hallway is lined with a thick red carpet that muffles the sound of guests walking to their rooms.
- While hardwood floors are easier to maintain, many homeowners prefer the tactile comfort and thermal properties of a wall-to-wall carpet in the master bedroom.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.