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.
Phrases and idioms:
carpet-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.
Etymology: ME f. OF carpite or med.L carpita, f. obs. It. carpita woollen counterpane, ult. f. L carpere pluck, pull to pieces