blanketing

noun

1. blankets: The blanketing was too warm.
2. Radio. the effect of a signal from a powerful transmitter that interferes with or prevents the reception of other signals.

noun

1. a large, rectangular piece of soft fabric, often with bound edges, used especially for warmth as a bed covering.
2. a similar piece of fabric used as a covering for a horse, dog, etc.
3. the chief garment traditionally worn by some American Indians.
4. any extended covering or layer: a blanket of snow.
5. Printing.
   1. (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.
   2. (in a press for letterpress printing) the resilient covering on the cylinder against which the paper is pressed in printing.
6. a thick roll or strip of material for thermal insulation.

verb (used with object)

7. to cover with or as with a blanket: wild flowers blanketing the hillside.
8. to obscure or obstruct; interfere with; overpower (usually followed by out): An electrical storm blanketed out the radio program.
9. to toss (someone) in a blanket, as in fraternity hazing.
10. Nautical. (of a vessel) to take wind from the sails of (another vessel) by passing closely to windward.

adjective

11. covering or intended to cover a large group or class of things, conditions, situations, etc.: a blanket proposal; a blanket indictment.

Idioms

12. born on the wrong side of the blanket, born out of wedlock.

noun

1. 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
2. a concealing cover or layer, as of smoke, leaves, or snow
3. 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
4. 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
5. (modifier) applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etcblanket insurance against loss, injury, and theft
6. born on the wrong side of the blanket informal illegitimate

verb (tr)

7. to cover with or as if with a blanket; overlie
8. to cover a very wide area, as in a publicity campaign; give blanket coverage
9. (usually foll by out) to obscure or suppressthe storm blanketed out the TV picture
10. nautical to prevent wind from reaching the sails of (another sailing vessel) by passing to windward of it

n.

c.1300, “bed-clothing; white woolen stuff,” from Old French blanchet “light wool or flannel cloth; an article made of this material,” diminutive of blanc “white” (see blank (adj.), which had a secondary sense of “a white cloth.” Wet blanket (1830) is from the notion of a person who throws a damper on social situations like a wet blanket smothers a fire. In U.S. history, a blanket Indian (1859) was one using the traditional garment instead of wearing Western dress.

Only 26,000 blanket Indians are left in the United States. [“Atlantic Monthly,” March 1906]

v.

c.1600, “to cover with or as with a blanket;” also “to toss in a blanket” (as punishment), from blanket (n.). Related: Blanketed; blanketing.

see security blanket; wet blanket.