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

The weekends-only market quickly established a loyal following: those who love hunting through the racks of vintage garments, perusing the Turkish rugs, delighting in quirky art finds, or haggling over a Mid-Century coffee table. —Jenny Adams, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025

When speaking to the media, Scott emphasized how important the right rug is to a space. —Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Feb. 2025

The rug is also conveniently stain-resistant and crafted with a medium pile that can withstand high-traffic areas. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025

When her assignments lead her to uncover criminal cases that have been swept under the rug, she is compelled to dig deeper. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Feb. 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