rug

noun

ˈrəg 

1

: lap robe

2

: a piece of thick heavy fabric that usually has a nap or pile and is used as a floor covering

3

: a floor mat of an animal pelt

a bearskin rug

4

slang : toupee sense 1

5

British : a blanket for an animal (such as a horse or dog)

Synonyms of rug

• wig
• toupee
• hairpiece

Examples of rug in a Sentence

I accidentally spilled wine on the rug.

You could tell that he was wearing a rug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Earplugs, thick rugs, and soundproof curtains can all help to reduce sound rather than add to it, and may all help to improve the quality of your overall snoozing. —Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026

Upstairs, the kitchen features a rainbow motif and original checkerboard floor; hallways bear a kaleidoscope of wallpaper prints; and Martin’s office (The Download Den) has a custom intarsia rug inspired by Italian churches. —Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026

But how can justice, let alone a meaningful reckoning, begin when the killings go on, swept under the rug by state officials and all but ignored by everyone else? —Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Not all rugs were born to be kitchen rugs. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English *rug rag, tuft, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect rugga coarse rug, Old Norse rǫgg tuft

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rug

• cut a rug
• flokati rug
• lie like a rug
• Oriental rug
• prayer rug
• pull the rug from under
• rug rat
• scatter rug
• steamer rug
• sweep (something) under the rug
• throw rug

Rhymes for rug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

rug

noun

ˈrəg 

: a piece of thick heavy fabric usually with a nap or pile used as a floor covering