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Glite Dictionary
carpet tack

carpet tack

1 5.7
A small sharp nail with a flat head that holds a carpet to the floor
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːrpɪt tæk/
translation icon : clavo de alfombra
  • To install the carpet properly, you need a hammer and carpet tacks.

Examples

  • "These are the two that went off Friday, what do you think?" In the first snapshot, Junior had a pained expression, as if he were sitting on a carpet tack.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The worker used carpet tacks to secure the edges of the new rug to the floor.

  • Darling, you could even buy carpet tacks if this is your particular preference.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • In the second year, he had her buy a thick, black cloth which he himself fastened to the cage with carpet tacks.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • She bought some carpet tacks to make sure the carpet didn't slip.

Synonyms

tack
vscarpet tack
17 2.2

A small nail with a flat head used to fasten things

is used specifically to fix floor coverings in place
tacket
vscarpet tack
9.9

A small nail used to hold leather or thin wood

is mainly for fixing floor coverings rather than footwear or woodwork

Surface Forms

carpet tack singular
carpet tacks plural

Morphology

carpet + tack

The compound 'carpet tack' is directly compositional: it denotes a 'tack' (small fastening pin) used for a 'carpet' (floor covering). This clear noun+noun compound pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase carpet tack comes from the simple image of a small, sharp tack pushed into the floor to hold the edge of a carpet down. That's why it means 'a small, sharp tack used to secure carpets to the floor'.