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 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>