blanket
a large, rectangular piece of soft fabric, often with bound edges, used especially for warmth as a bed covering.
a similar piece of fabric used as a covering for a horse, dog, etc.
the chief garment traditionally worn by some American Indians.
any extended covering or layer: a blanket of snow.
Printing.
(in a press for offset printing) the rubber-covered cylinder to which an inked impression is transferred from the plate for transfer directly to the paper.
(in a press for letterpress printing) the resilient covering on the cylinder against which the paper is pressed in printing.
a thick roll or strip of material for thermal insulation.
to cover with or as with a blanket: wild flowers blanketing the hillside.
to obscure or obstruct; interfere with; overpower (usually followed by out): An electrical storm blanketed out the radio program.
to toss (someone) in a blanket, as in fraternity hazing.
Nautical. (of a vessel) to take wind from the sails of (another vessel) by passing closely to windward.
covering or intended to cover a large group or class of things, conditions, situations, etc.: a blanket proposal; a blanket indictment.
Idioms about blanket
born on the wrong side of the blanket, born out of wedlock.
Origin of blanket
1Other words for blanket
Other words from blanket
- blan·ket·less, adjective
- blan·ket·like, adjective
- un·blan·ket·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for blanket
/ (ˈblæŋkɪt) /
a large piece of thick cloth for use as a bed covering, animal covering, etc, enabling a person or animal to retain natural body heat
a concealing cover or layer, as of smoke, leaves, or snow
a rubber or plastic sheet wrapped round a cylinder, used in offset printing to transfer the image from the plate, stone, or forme to the paper
physics a layer of a fertile substance placed round the core of a nuclear reactor as a reflector or absorber and often to breed new fissionable fuel
(modifier) applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc: blanket insurance against loss, injury, and theft
born on the wrong side of the blanket informal illegitimate
to cover with or as if with a blanket; overlie
to cover a very wide area, as in a publicity campaign; give blanket coverage
(usually foll by out) to obscure or suppress: the storm blanketed out the TV picture
nautical to prevent wind from reaching the sails of (another sailing vessel) by passing to windward of it
Origin of blanket
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with blanket
see security blanket; wet blanket.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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