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Glite Dictionary
carpet bug

carpet bug

8.3
A small insect whose young eat wool carpets and clothes
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːrpɪt bʌɡ/
translation icon : escarabajo de la alfombra
  • The larvae of the carpet bug can cause significant damage to wool sweaters and rugs.

Examples

  • These carpet bugs are ruining my favorite rug!

  • We discovered a carpet bug infestation in the guest room last spring.

  • A pest control expert identified the small insects as carpet bugs feeding on our carpets.

  • I found a carpet bug in my living room.

  • A pest control expert identified the small insects as carpet bugs feeding on our carpets.

  • The larvae of the carpet bug can cause significant damage to wool sweaters and rugs.

  • We discovered a carpet bug infestation in the guest room last spring.

Synonyms

carpet beetle
vscarpet bug
1 4.8

A small insect whose young eat wool, fur and other animal materials

is the general name for small household larvae that eat woolen fabrics
buffalo carpet beetle
vscarpet bug
  • US
8.2

A small beetle with black, red and white marks that eats carpets and other fabric

is the general pest term focusing on larvae that eat woolen fabrics not markings
black carpet beetle
vscarpet bug
7.5

A small black insect that eats household fabrics and stored food

covers small household larvae that eat woolen fabrics rather than just colour
Anthrenus scrophulariae
vscarpet bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A small beetle with black, red, and white markings that eats natural fibres like wool and silk

is the broad household pest term rather than a specific scientific name

Surface Forms

carpet bug singular
carpet bugs plural

Morphology

carpet + bug

The meaning 'a small insect associated with carpets' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'carpet' (the floor covering) with 'bug' (a small insect), yielding a bug found in or damaging carpets. This follows a common noun+noun compounding pattern (type or location), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the general pest sense even if they may not know the exact species or lifecycle details.

Etymology

The name carpet bug comes from real insects that live in carpets and eat wool and cloth. People saw these little bugs in rugs, so the name now means 'a small pest that damages carpets and wool'.