Main Entry:

¹cov·er

Pronunciation:

\ˈkə-vər\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

cov·ered; cov·er·ing \ˈkəv-riŋ, ˈkə-və-\

Etymology:

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

Date:

13th century

transitive verb1 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 expedient2 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 bet15: to buy securities or commodities for delivery against (an earlier short sale)16: to record or perform a cover of (a song)intransitive verb1: to conceal something illicit, blameworthy, or embarrassing from notice —usually used with up2: 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>