I. ˈkə-vər verb
( 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 cover ing 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 cover ing 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 cover ing her legs
3. : to lay or spread something over : overlay
cover the seed bed with straw
4.
a. : to spread over
snow cover ed the hills
b. : to appear here and there on the surface of
a region cover ed 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 cover s a mare
b. : to sit on and incubate (eggs)
7. : to invest with a large or excessive amount of something
cover ed 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 cover ing a full year's work
10. : to deal with : treat
material cover ed in the first chapter
11.
a. : to have as one's territory or field of activity
one sales rep cover s the whole state
b. : to report news about
reporters cover ing the campaign
12. : to pass over : traverse
the hikers cover ed 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
- cover the ground
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Date: 14th century
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 cover s
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