First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1blanket
noun blan·ket \ˈblaŋ-kət\
: a covering made of cloth that is used especially on a bed to keep you warm
: a mass of something that covers an area
: a general mood
Full Definition of BLANKET
1
a : a large usually oblong piece of woven fabric used as a bed covering b : a similar piece of fabric used as a body covering (as for an animal) <a horse blanket>
2
: something that resembles a blanket <a blanket of fog> <a blanket of gloom>
3
: a rubber or plastic sheet on the cylinder in an offset press that transfers the image to the surface being printed
— blan·ket·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
See blanket defined for English-language learners
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Origin of BLANKET
Middle English, white woolen cloth, bed covering, from Anglo-French blankete, from blanc white — more at blank
2blanket
verb
: to cover (something)
Full Definition of BLANKET
transitive verb
1
: to cover with or as if with a blanket <new grass blankets the slope>
2
a : to cover so as to obscure, interrupt, suppress, or extinguish <blanket a fire with foam> b : to interrupt the smooth flow of wind to (as a downwind ship) c : to apply or cause to apply to uniformly despite wide separation or diversity among the elements included <freight rates that blanket a region> d : to cause to be included <automatically blanketed into the program><towns blanketed into the district>
See blanket defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BLANKET
1605
3blanket
adjective
: affecting or applying to everyone or everything
Full Definition of BLANKET
1
: effective or applicable in all instances
2
: covering all members of a group or class <a blanket wage increase>
See blanket defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BLANKET
1886
Related to BLANKET
- Synonyms
- across-the-board, general, broad-brush, common, generic, global, overall, universal
- Antonyms
- individual, particular
BLANKET[1] Defined for Kids
1blanket
noun blan·ket \ˈblaŋ-kət\
Definition of BLANKET for Kids
1
: a heavy woven covering used especially for beds
2
: a covering layer <a blanket of snow>
2blanket
verb
blank·et·edblank·et·ing
Definition of BLANKET for Kids
: to cover with or as if with a blanket <Snow blanketed the ground.>
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