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

• hairpiece
• toupee
• wig

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

It’s filled with stunning area rugs — and some styles currently have rare deals at Amazon. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Area rugs Oriental gray/ivory/black indoor rug: on sale for $119.99 Original price: $339 Wayfair offers a simple oriental rug that comes in neutral gray, black and ivory colors. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025

To pull off the bubble wrap prank, cut a piece of large-bubble bubble wrap (aka the big bubble kind!) to fit under your child's rug. —Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025

The e-retailer has added more and more products that contain the hue—and one, a butter-yellow-and-black rug, quickly became a best-seller. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025

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