v.
- put something on top of or in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it.
▸envelop in a layer of something.
- extend over (an area).
- deal with (a subject).
▸(of a rule or law) apply to.
- travel (a specified distance).
- (of money) be enough to pay (a cost).
▸(of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident.
▸
(cover oneself)
take precautions against future blame or liability.
- disguise or conceal.
▸
(cover something up)
try to hide or deny the fact of (a wrongful action).
▸
(cover for)
temporarily take over the job or role of.
- aim a gun at.
▸protect (an exposed person) by shooting at the enemy.
▸(in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opponent).
▸Baseball be in position at (a base) ready to catch the ball.
- Bridge play a higher card on (a high card).
- record or perform a cover version of (a song).
- (of a male animal, especially a stallion) copulate with (a female animal).
n.
- something that covers or protects.
▸a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine.
▸
(covers)
bedclothes.
- physical shelter:
they ran for cover.
▸vegetation used as a shelter by hunted animals.
- military support for someone in danger.
- a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity.
▸an identity adopted by a spy to conceal their true activities.
- Ecology the amount of ground covered by a vertical projection of the vegetation.
- Brit. protection by insurance.
- a place setting at a table in a restaurant.
- Cricket short for cover point.
▸
(the covers)
an area of the field consisting of cover point and extra cover.
-
(also cover version)
a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by a different artist.
Phrase
Derivative
- coverable adj.
- covering n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. covrir, from L. cooperire, from co- + operire ‘to cover’; sense 7 of the noun from Fr. couvert.