blanket
/ˈblæŋ.kɪt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A thick cover used to keep a person or bed warm. It is usually made of wool, cotton, or a soft synthetic material.
- She wrapped herself in a blanket.
- The hotel gave us extra blankets.
- He pulled the blanket up to his chin.
adjective
Used to describe something that affects everything or everyone in a group. It often suggests no special case or exception.
- The school made a blanket rule for all students.
- They gave a blanket approval to the plan.
- A blanket ban was placed on fireworks.
verb
To cover something completely, especially with snow, fog, smoke, or something similar.
- Snow blanketed the hills overnight.
- Fog blanketed the city early this morning.
- Smoke blanketed the street after the fire.
Adinary Nuance
Blanket is more about full coverage or total effect than about softness or warmth. Compare it with covering or sheet for general covers, and blanket for something thick, warm, or complete. As an adjective, it often sounds official or serious, like blanket ban or blanket rule.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chăn
- Spanish
- manta
- Chinese
- 毯子
- Japanese
- 毛布
- Korean
- 담요
Etymology
Blanket came into English from Old French in the 1300s. It first meant a white wool cloth, then became the common word for a bed covering.
Common phrases
blanket coverageblanket banblanket rulewool blanket
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is blanket a noun, adjective, or verb?
- It can be all three. The noun is most common, but the adjective and verb are also used.
- What is the difference between blanket and sheet?
- A blanket is thicker and keeps you warm. A sheet is thinner and is usually placed under or over you.
- Is blanket formal in academic writing?
- The adjective form can be formal, especially in phrases like "blanket ban." The noun is everyday.
- Can I say blanket approval in business writing?
- Yes. It means approval without careful checking or exceptions.