cover

¹cov·er

verb \ˈkə-vər\

cov·eredcov·er·ing \ˈkəv-riŋ, ˈkə-və-\

Definition of COVER

transitive verb

1

a : to guard from attack

b (1) : to have within the range of one's guns : command (2) : to hold within range of an aimed firearm

c (1) : to afford protection or security to : insure (2) : to afford protection against or compensation for <a policy covering loss by fire>

d (1) : to guard (an opponent) in order to obstruct a play <a linebacker assigned to cover the tight end> (2) : to be in position to receive a throw to (a base in baseball) <the shortstop was covering second>

e (1) : to make provision for (a demand or charge) by means of a reserve or deposit <your balance is insufficient to cover the check> (2) : to maintain a check on especially by patrolling (3) : to protect by contrivance or expedient

2

a : to hide from sight or knowledge : conceal <cover up a scandal>

b : to lie over : envelop <a blanket covering her legs>

3

: to lay or spread something over : overlay <cover the seed bed with straw>

4

a : to spread over <snow covered the hills>

b : to appear here and there on the surface of <a region covered with lakes>

5

: to place or set a cover or covering over <cover the pot>

6

a : to copulate with (a female animal) <a horse covers a mare>

b : to sit on and incubate (eggs)

7

: to invest with a large or excessive amount of something <covered herself with glory>

8

: to play a higher-ranking card on (a previously played card)

9

: to have sufficient scope to include or take into account <an examination covering a full year's work>

10

: to deal with : treat <material covered in the first chapter>

11

a : to have as one's territory or field of activity <one sales rep covers the whole state>

b : to report news about <reporters covering the campaign>

12

: to pass over : traverse <the hikers covered 12 miles that day>

13

: to defray the cost of <cover expenses>

14

: to place one's stake in equal jeopardy with in a bet

15

: to buy securities or commodities for delivery against (an earlier short sale)

16

: to record or perform a cover of (a song)

intransitive verb

1

: to conceal something illicit, blameworthy, or embarrassing from notice —usually used with up

2

: to act as a substitute or replacement during an absence

— cov·er·able \ˈkəv-rə-bəl, ˈkə-və-\ adjective

— co·ver·er \ˈkə-vər-ər\ noun

— cover one's tracks

: to conceal traces in order to elude pursuers or escape detection

— cover the ground or cover ground

: to deal with a subject or assignment in a particular manner <the new book covers a lot of ground>

Examples of COVER

1. The gardener covered the soil with mulch.
2. The furniture had been covered in a protective cloth.
3. We covered the stains on the wall with a fresh coat of paint.
4. You should cover your mouth when you cough.
5. She covered her head with a scarf.
6. tables covered with white linen
7. Lakes cover much of the state.
8. The hikers covered long distances every day.
9. The bird may cover thousands of miles during its migration.

Origin of COVER

Middle English, from Anglo-French coverir, covrir, from Latin cooperire, from co- + operire to close, cover

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to COVER

Synonyms

fill in, pinch-hit, stand in, step in, sub, substitute, take over

Antonyms

bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal, show, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Related Words

understudy; relieve, spell; double (as)

Near Antonyms

bare, expose, uncover

²cover

noun, often attributive

Definition of COVER

1

: something that protects, shelters, or guards: as

a : natural shelter for an animal; also : the factors that provide such shelter

b (1) : a position or situation affording protection from enemy fire (2) : the protection offered by airplanes in tactical support of a military operation

c British : coverage 1a, b, 2a

2

: something that is placed over or about another thing:

a : lid, top

b : a binding or case for a book or the analogous part of a magazine; also : the front or back of such a binding

c : an overlay or outer layer especially for protection <a mattress cover>

d : a tablecloth and the other table accessories

e : cover charge

f : roof

g : a cloth used on a bed for warmth or for decoration —usually used in plural <lying under the covers>

h : something (as vegetation or snow) that covers the ground

i : the extent to which clouds obscure the sky

3

a : something that conceals or obscures <under cover of darkness>

b : a masking device : pretext <the project was a cover for intelligence operations>

4

: an envelope or wrapper for mail

5

: one who substitutes for another during an absence

6

: a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by another performer

— cov·er·less \ˈkə-vər-ləs\ adjective

— under cover

1

: in an envelope or wrapper

2

: under concealment : in secret

Examples of COVER

1. She placed a cover over the pan so that the oil wouldn't spatter.
2. I put a cover on the sofa to protect it.
3. I lifted the cover of the box and peaked inside.
4. There's a picture of the author on the book's back cover.
5. The singer is posing in jeans and cowboy boots on the album cover.

First Known Use of COVER

14th century

Related to COVER

Synonyms

cap, lid, top

Related Words

dome, hood, roof; capsule, case, casing, covering, housing, jacket, sheath, shell

Near Antonyms

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

Rhymes with COVER

hover, shover