blanket

blanket

I

blan‧ket¹ /ˈblæŋkət, ˈblæŋkɪt/ noun1. [countable] a cover for a bed, usually made of wool ⇨ duvet
2. [singular] a thick covering or area of something
    blanket of
    The hills were covered with a blanket of snow.
    blanket of fog/cloud
3. [singular] something that makes it hard for you to find information or the truth about something
   SYN  cloak
    blanket of
    The trial was held under a blanket of secrecy.
⇨ electric blanket at electric(1), ⇨ wet blanket, security blanket

II

blanket² verb [transitive usually passive]
to cover something with a thick layer
    be blanketed in/with something
    The rooftops were blanketed in snow.

III

blanket³ adjective [only before noun]
blanket statement/rule/ban etc a statement, rule etc that affects everyone or includes all possible cases:
    the proposed blanket ban on tobacco advertising
    a blanket strategy