Meaning & use
blankets
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“blankets” is a form of “blanket”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Large pieces of soft fabric used on beds to keep people warm.
Grammar: Countable: one blanket, two blankets. Use 'a blanket' for one, 'blankets' for more than one.
Patterns
- a blanket
- two blankets
- under a blanket
- put a blanket on someone
She pulled the blankets up to her chin.
The hotel room had clean sheets and warm blankets.
He folded the blankets and put them in the closet.
nouncountable
Thick covers or layers of something, such as snow or cloud.
Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'a blanket of snow' or 'blankets of cloud'.
Patterns
- a blanket of snow
- a blanket of cloud
- blankets of fog
A blanket of snow covered the garden.
The valley was hidden under a blanket of fog.
Thick blankets of cloud moved across the sky.
Word forms
| singular | blanket |
|---|
Common combinations
- a blanket of snow
- A blanket of snow lay over the fields.
- warm blanket
- She wrapped the baby in a warm blanket.
- electric blanket
- They use an electric blanket in winter.
- under a blanket
- The cat slept under a blanket.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cover
- A cover is a general word for something that goes over another thing; a blanket is a specific thick, soft bed covering.
- quilt
- A quilt is a thick bed cover filled with soft material and often stitched in patterns; a blanket is usually a single layer of warm fabric.
- duvet
- A duvet is a thick, bag-like cover filled with feathers or synthetic material, used instead of a blanket and sheets.
Word family
- blanket adjective
- Meaning covering everything or everyone, as in 'a blanket ban'.
- blanketed adjective
- Covered completely, as in 'blanketed in snow'.
Practice
Choose the correct word: She put an extra ______ on the bed because it was cold.
Choose one answer.
'An extra' is singular, so 'blanket' is correct. 'Blankets' is plural and would need 'some extra blankets'. 'Blanketing' is a verb form, and 'blanketed' is a past participle, neither fits after 'an extra'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “blankets”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.