Collins English-English Dictionary

blanket ['blæŋkɪt]

1. 1. n 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. 2. n a concealing cover or layer, as of smoke, leaves, or snow

3. 3. n 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. 4. n [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. 5. n [modifier] applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc

   blanket insurance against loss, injury, and theft

6. 6. vt. [tr] to cover with or as if with a blanket; overlie

7. 7. vt. to cover a very wide area, as in a publicity campaign; give blanket coverage

8. 8. vt. [usually foll by out] to obscure or suppress

   the storm blanketed out the TV picture

9. 9. vt. [nautical] to prevent wind from reaching the sails of (another sailing vessel) by passing to windward of it

10. 10. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old French blancquete, from blanc; see blank