carpet

UK: /ˈkɑː^rpɪt/ US: /ˈkɑrpɪt/ ,(kär′pit)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

car•pet /ˈkɑrpɪt/   n. 

[countable]
1. Textiles a heavy, thick, woven fabric for covering floors.
2. any surface or covering resembling a carpet;
   layer:
   a carpet of wildflowers in the meadow.

v. [~ + object]

3. to cover with or as if with a carpet:
   They decided to carpet the hallway.

Idioms

4. Idioms on the carpet, summoned for a scolding;
   in trouble:
   His boss called him on the carpet after his last mistake.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

car•pet  (kär′pit), n. 

1. Textiles a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
2. Textiles a covering of this material.
3. any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet:
   They walked on the carpet of grass.
4. Idioms on the carpet:
   • before an authority or superior for an accounting of one's actions or a reprimand:
     He was called on the carpet again for his carelessness.
   • [Chiefly Brit.] under consideration or discussion.
5. any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
6. a system of such devices.

v.t. 

7. to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
8. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] to reprimand.

• Vulgar Latin *carpīta, past participle of carpīre, for Latin carpere to pluck, card (wool)
• Italian carpita woolen bedspread
• Middle French carpite or Medieval Latin carpīta
• Middle English carpete cloth covering for a table, floor, bed, etc. 1300–50

car′pet•less, adj. 
car′pet•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

carpet / ˈkɑːpɪt/ noun

1. a heavy fabric for covering floors
2. a covering like a carpet: a carpet of leaves
3. on the carpet ⇒ before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
4. under consideration

verb ( -pets, -peting, -peted)(transitive)

1. to cover with or as if with a carpet
2. to reprimand

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from Late Latin carpeta, literally: (wool) that has been carded, from Latin carpere to pluck, card