ˈkɑ:pɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a
thick fabric for covering a
floor or stairs. b a
piece of
this fabric. 2 an
expanse or
layer resembling a carpet in
being smooth,
soft,
bright, or thick (carpet of snow). --v.tr. (carpeted, carpeting) 1
cover with or as with a carpet. 2 colloq.
reprimand,
reprove. øcarpet-bag a travelling-bag of a kind orig.
made of carpet-like
material. carpet-bagger 1
esp. US a
political candidate in an
area where the candidate
has no
local connections (orig. a
northerner in the
southern US
after the
Civil War). 2 an
unscrupulous opportunist. carpet bombing
intensive bombing. carpet
slipper a kind of slipper with the upper made orig. of carpet-like material. carpet-sweeper a
household implement with a revolving
brush or brushes for
sweeping carpets. on the carpet 1 colloq. being reprimanded. 2
under consideration.
sweep under the carpet
conceal (a
problem or difficulty) in the
hope that it will be
forgotten. [ME f. OF carpite or med.L carpita, f. obs.
It. carpita
woollen counterpane, ult. f. L carpere
pluck,
pull to pieces]
