Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense covers, present participle covering, past tense, past participle covered
1. verb
If you cover something, you place something else over it in order to protect it, hide it, or closeit.
Cover the casserole with a tight-fitting lid. [VERB noun + with]
He whimpered and covered his face. [VERB noun]
Keep what's left in a covered container in the fridge. [VERB-ed]
2. verb
If one thing covers another, it has been placed over it in order to protect it, hide it, or close it.
His finger went up to touch the black patch which covered his left eye. [VERB noun]
His head was covered with a khaki turban. [beVERB-ed + with]
Synonyms: conceal, cover up, screen, hide More Synonyms of cover
3. verb
If one thing covers another, it forms a layer over its surface.
The clouds had spread and nearly covered the entire sky. [VERB noun]
Two oil slicks are covering a total area of seven square miles. [VERB noun]
The desk was covered with papers. [beV-ed + with/in]
Synonyms: overlay, blanket, eclipse, mantle More Synonyms of cover
-coveredcombining form in adjective
...chocolate-covered biscuits.
4. verb
To cover something with or in something else means to put a layer of the second thing over its surface.
The trees in your garden may have covered the ground with apples, pears or plums. [V n + with/in]
She covered the walls with the signs of the zodiac. [V n with/in n]
5. verb
If you cover a particular distance, you travel that distance.
It would not be easy to cover ten miles on that amount of petrol. [VERB noun]
It covered the distance in 28 hours compared with the train's six days. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: travel over, cross, traverse, pass through or over More Synonyms of cover
6. verb
To cover someone or something means to protect them from attack, for example by pointing agun in the direction of people who may attack them, ready to fire the gun if necessary.
You go first. I'll cover you. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: protect, guard, defend, shelter More Synonyms of cover
7. uncountable noun
Cover is protection from enemy attack that is provided for troops or ships carrying out a particular operation, for example by aircraft.
They said they could not provide adequate air cover for ground operations.
8. uncountable noun
Cover is trees, rocks, or other places where you shelter from the weather or from an attack,or hide from someone.
Charles lit the fuses and they ran for cover.
...barren wastes of field with no trees and no cover.
Synonyms: protection, shelter, shield, refuge More Synonyms of cover
9. verb
An insurance policy that covers a person or thing guarantees that money will be paid by the insurance company inrelation to that person or thing.
Their insurer paid the £900 bill, even though the policy did not strictly cover it. [VERB noun]
These items are not covered by your medical insurance. [VERB noun]
You should take out travel insurance covering you and your family against theft. [VERB noun + against]
Synonyms: insure, compensate, provide for, offset More Synonyms of cover
10. uncountable noun
Insurance cover is a guarantee from an insurance company that money will be paid by them if it isneeded.
Make sure that the firm's insurance cover is adequate.
Synonyms: insurance, payment, protection, compensation More Synonyms of cover
11. verb
If a law covers a particular set of people, things, or situations, it applies to them.
The law covers four categories of experiments. [VERB noun]
In the US, the matter is covered by the Copyright Act of 1976. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: deal with, refer to, provide for, take account of More Synonyms of cover
12. verb
If you cover a particular topic, you discuss it in a lecture, course, or book.
The Oxford Chemistry Primers aim to cover important topics in organic chemistry. [VERB noun]
Other subjects covered included nerves and how to overcome them. [VERB-ed]
13. verb
If journalists, newspapers, or television companies cover an event, they report on it.
Robinson was sent to Italy to cover the World Cup. [VERB noun]
The U.S. news media will cover the trial closely. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: report on, write about, commentate on, give an account of More Synonyms of cover
14. verb
If a sum of money covers something, it is enough to pay for it.
Send it to the address given with £1.50 to cover postage and administration. [VERB noun]
Those figures might not even cover the cost of breakages. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: pay for, fund, provide for, offset More Synonyms of cover
15. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A cover is something which is put over an object, usually in order to protect it.
...a family room with washable covers on the furniture.
...a duvet cover.
16. plural noun
The covers on your bed are the things such as sheets and blankets that you have on top of you.
She set her glass down and slid farther under the covers.
Synonyms: bedclothes, bedding, sheet, blanket More Synonyms of cover
17. countable noun
The cover of a book or a magazine is the outside part of it.
He was the second jazz musician to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.
...a small spiral-bound booklet with a green cover.
I used to read every issue from cover to cover.
Synonyms: jacket, case, binding, wrapper More Synonyms of cover
18. countable noun [usually singular]
Something that is a cover for secret or illegal activities seems respectable or normal, and is intended to hide the activities.
They set up a spurious temple that was a cover for sexual debauchery. [+ for]
As a cover story he generally tells people he is a freelance photographer.
19. verb
If you cover for someone who is doing something secret or illegal, you give false information or donot give all the information you have, in order to protect them.
Why would she cover for someone who was trying to kill her? [VERB + for]
20. verb
If you cover for someone who is ill or away, you do their work for them while they are not there.
She did not have enough nurses to cover for those who went ill or took holiday. [VERB + for]
21. verb
To cover a song originally performed by someone else means to record a new version of it.
He must make a decent living from other artists covering his songs. [VERB noun]
22. countable noun
A cover is the same as a cover version.
The single is a cover of an old Rolling Stones song. [+ of]
23. See also covered, covering
24.
See to blow someone's cover
25.
See to break cover
26.
See to take cover
27.
See under cover
28.
See under cover of
29.
See cover your back/cover your rear
30.
See cover your ass
Phrasal verbs:
See cover up
More Synonyms of cover
cover in British English
(ˈkʌvə)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
to place or spread something over so as to protect or conceal
2.
to provide with a covering; clothe
3.
to put a garment, esp a hat, on (the body or head)
4.
to extend over or lie thickly on the surface of; spread
snow covered the fields
5.
to bring upon (oneself); invest (oneself) as if with a covering
covered with shame
6. (sometimes foll by up)
to act as a screen or concealment for; hide from view
7. military
to protect (an individual, formation, or place) by taking up a position from whichfire may be returned if those being protected are fired upon
8. (also intr,; often foll byfor)
to assume responsibility for (a person or thing)
to cover for a colleague in his absence
9. (intr; foll by for or up for)
to provide an alibi (for)
10.
to have as one's territory
this sales team covers the north
11.
to travel over
to cover three miles a day
12. (transitive)
to have or place in the aim and within the range of (a firearm)
13.
to include or deal with
his talk covered all aspects of the subject
14.
(of an asset or income) to be sufficient to meet (a liability or expense)
15.
a.
to insure against loss, risk, etc
b.
to provide for (loss, risk, etc) by insurance
16. (also intr) finance
to purchase (securities, etc) in order to meet contracts, esp short sales
17.
to deposit (an equivalent stake) in a bet or wager
18. (also intr)
to play a card higher in rank than (one played beforehand by another player)
19.
to act as reporter or photographer on (a news event, etc) for a newspaper or magazine
to cover sports events
20. sport
to guard or protect (an opponent, team-mate, or area)
21. music
to record a cover version of
22.
(of a male animal, esp a horse) to copulate with (a female animal)
23.
(of a bird) to brood (eggs)
noun
24.
anything that covers, spreads over, protects, or conceals
25.
woods or bushes providing shelter or a habitat for wild creatures
26.
a.
a blanket used on a bed for warmth
b. another word for bedspread
27. finance
liquid assets, reserves, or guaranteed income sufficient to discharge a liability, meet an expenditure, etc
28.
a pretext, disguise, or false identity
they used the business as a cover for a smuggling operation
29. insurance another word for coverage (sense 3)
30.
an envelope or package for sending through the post
under plain cover
31. on cover
32.
an individual table setting, esp in a restaurant
33. sport
the guarding or protection of an opponent, team-mate, or area
34. Also called: cover version
a version by a different artist of a previously recorded musical item
35. cricket
a. (often plural)
the area more or less at right angles to the pitch on the off side and usually abouthalfway to the boundary
to field in the covers
b.
(as modifier)
a cover drive by a batsman
c. Also called: cover point
a fielder in such a position
36. ecology
the percentage of the ground surface covered by a given species of plant
37. break cover
38. take cover
39. under cover
Derived forms
coverable (ˈcoverable)
adjective
coverer (ˈcoverer)
noun
coverless (ˈcoverless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperīre to cover completely, from operīre to cover over
cover in American English
(ˈkʌvər)
verb transitive
1.
to place something on, over, or in front of, so as to conceal, protect, or close
2.
to extend over; overlay; blanket
snow covered the highway
3.
to copulate with (the female)
said chiefly of a stallion
4.
to clothe
5.
to coat, sprinkle, etc. thickly
covered with mud
6.
to sit on (eggs); brood; incubate
7.
to conceal by hiding or screening
8.
to keep from harm or injury by shielding; protect by screening
9.
to include and provide for; take into account
the law covers such cases
10.
a.
to protect against financial loss or liability, as by insurance or reserve funds
b.
to make up for (a loss, injury, etc.) by insurance, reserve funds, etc.
c.
to be sufficient for payment of (expenses, a debt, etc.)
11.
to accept (a bet); stake the equivalent of (an opponent's stake) in a wager
12.
to travel over; go the length of
to cover a distance
13.
to work in or be responsible for (a particular area or range of activity)
to cover a territory as a salesman
14.
to deal with; treat of
to cover a subject
15.
to bring upon (oneself) by one's actions
to cover oneself with glory
16.
to point a firearm or similar weapon at; put or keep within the range and in theaim of a gun or the like
17. US, Slang
to record or perform a cover (sense 33) of
18. Cards
to put a higher card on (a previously played card)
19. US, Finance
to buy stock to replace (shares borrowed from a broker to effect a short sale)
20. US, Journalism
to have the assignment of gathering and reporting the details of (a news story)
21. Military
to keep (a person or group) within sight or contact so as to protect from enemy action
22. Sport
a.
to watch, guard, defend, or defend against
b. Baseball
to be ready to receive a throw to (a particular base)
c. American Football
to attempt to prevent (a pass receiver) from catching the ball or prevent (a punted ball) from being returned
verb intransitive
23.
to spread over a surface, as a liquid does
24.
to put on a cap, hat, etc.
25. US
to provide an alibi, excuse, or subterfuge (for another)
noun
26.
anything that covers, as a bookbinding, the front binding of a magazine, a jar lid, a box top, etc.
27.
a shelter for protection, as from gunfire
28.
a hiding place for game, as a thicket, underbrush, etc.
29.
a tablecloth and setting for a meal, esp. for one person
30. US
cover charge
31.
something used for hiding one's real actions, intentions, etc.
32.
a.
an envelope or wrapper for mail
b.
an envelope or postal card with a stamp, postmark, and cachet of historical or philatelic significance
33. Slang
a version of a song, esp. one that has become popular in a particular recording,as performed or recorded in imitation of the original or with a fresh interpretation
Idioms:
break cover
cover up
take cover
under cover
Derived forms
coverer (ˈcoverer)
noun
Word origin
ME coveren < OFr covrir < L cooperire < co-, intens. + operire, to hide < IE *op-wer-, to cover < *op(i)-, back, against + *wer, to cover, protect > warn; (sense 29) modeled on Fr couvert
cover in Finance
(kʌvər)
Word forms: (present) covers, (past) covered, (perfect) covered, (progressive) covering
verb
(Finance: General)
If you cover a liability, you have enough money to pay it.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ a debt~ expenses
Direct overheads are the part of overhead costs devoted to the manufacturing sectorof a firm to cover expenses such as rent and utilities.
Some of the company's large stock of assets are likely to be sold to cover the debts.
If you cover a liability, you have enough money to pay it.
cover in Insurance1
(kʌvər)
Word forms: (present) covers, (past) covered, (perfect) covered, (progressive) covering
verb
(Insurance: General)
If an insurance policy covers a person or a particular risk, it insures them against loss or risk.
Water damage from floods is covered under separate flood insurance policies.
An underinsured policyholder may only receive part of the cost of replacing or repairingdamaged items covered in the policy.
If an insurance policy covers a person or a particular risk, it insures them against loss or risk.
cover in Insurance2
(kʌvər)
noun
(Insurance: General)
Cover is the extent of the protection provided by insurance.
SIMILAR WORDS:
coverage
When choosing cover for overseas travel, make sure the policy will be recognized around the world.
The length of cover can be extended even if the amount paid is not being increased.
Cover is the extent of the protection provided by insurance.
nonproportional cover, write cover
cover in Accounting
(kʌvər)
Word forms: (present) covers, (past) covered, (perfect) covered, (progressive) covering
verb
(Accounting: Basic)
If an asset or income covers a liability or expense, it is sufficient to pay the costs of the liability or expense.
That sale will cover this month's rent.
Some of the company's large stock of assets are likely to be sold to cover the debts.
If an asset or income covers a liability or expense, it is sufficient to pay the costs of the liability or expense.
More idioms containing
cover
cover your back
you can't judge a book by its cover
cover your tracks
cover the waterfront
Examples of 'cover' in a sentence
cover
Cover and set aside in its pot to keep warm.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sandwich the cakes together with buttercream and cover the top and sides with the rest.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It shows no one was covering that wide area.
The Sun (2016)
Taking out cover is one way to manage the risk.
The Sun (2016)
Why would he agree to carry out a murder in a way that would obviously blow his cover at once?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bookshelf was next to a neatly made single bed, covered with a blue blanket.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In another, our duvet cover.
The Sun (2017)
You can at least ask that the set be covered up beforehand.
Christianity Today (2000)
We were a split family and they covered it up.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The school removed her from two of the periods but left her covering one.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Who wants to eat something covered in slime?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
None of the companies plans to include full insurance cover in quoted prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There was a lot of ground to cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can blow their cover pretty easily.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Great to cover affected areas without sticking while waiting to get to the hospital for medical attention.
The Sun (2016)
Three seconds covers the top five crews in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This borrowing from the movie industry also covers the characters.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He said he was sure that the troops would attack under the cover of darkness.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are many techniques already covered in this book that are equal to the second task.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
We all read them from cover to cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The dressings are fairly minimal just enough to cover and protect the stitches.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
Those endless afternoons in beige hotel rooms with quilted stripy bed covers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They connect you to career opportunities and provide air cover when you encounter trouble.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You may be surprised to find some of the most obvious things are not covered.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They want to look like models on the cover of a magazine.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Cover and place in the fridge for an hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She herself posted their notes together with a covering letter setting out the significanceto the contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Use a 100 per cent cotton duvet cover.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
Insurance should cover a lot of the damage, but some items are priceless.
The Sun (2015)
On Thursday he appeared on the front cover of Time magazine.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's often a cover for being passive aggressive, licensing your critic to be as horrible as they want while pretending to be helpful.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
cover
parts of a book
In other languages
cover
British English: cover /ˈkʌvə/ NOUN
A cover is something that you put over another thing.
Put a cover over the sofa to keep it clean.
American English: cover
Arabic: غِطَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: tampa
Chinese: 盖子
Croatian: pokrivač
Czech: kryt
Danish: dække
Dutch: omslag
European Spanish: cubierta
Finnish: suojus
French: couverture
German: Abdeckung
Greek: κάλυμμα
Italian: copertura
Japanese: 覆い
Korean: 덮개
Norwegian: deksel
Polish: pokrycie
European Portuguese: tampa
Romanian: înveliș
Russian: покрывало
Latin American Spanish: cubierta
Swedish: lock lucka
Thai: ปกหนังสือ
Turkish: örtü
Ukrainian: чохол
Vietnamese: màn che
British English: cover /ˈkʌvə/ VERB
If you cover something, you put another thing over it.
She covered the table with a cloth.
American English: cover
Arabic: يُغَطي
Brazilian Portuguese: cobrir
Chinese: 覆盖
Croatian: pokriti se
Czech: přikrýt
Danish: dække
Dutch: bedekken
European Spanish: cubrir
Finnish: peittää
French: couvrir
German: zudecken
Greek: καλύπτω
Italian: coprire
Japanese: 覆う
Korean: 덮다
Norwegian: dekke
Polish: pokryć
European Portuguese: cobrir
Romanian: a acoperi
Russian: накрывать
Latin American Spanish: cubrir
Swedish: täcka
Thai: คลุม
Turkish: örtmek
Ukrainian: накривати
Vietnamese: che phủ
All related terms of 'cover'
air cover
the use of aircraft to provide aerial protection for ground forces against enemy air attack
cover-up
If you cover something or someone up , you put something over them in order to protect or hide them.
on cover
an entire envelope that has been postmarked
re-cover
to cover again
album cover
the front of the outer packaging of a record album , usually decorated and showing its title and the name of the artist
back cover
the back part of the cover of a book or magazine
book cover
the cover of a book
break cover
(esp of game animals) to come out from a shelter or hiding place
cloud cover
the state of the sky when it is covered with cloud
cover band
a band that makes or performs cover versions of songs
cover crop
a crop planted between main crops to prevent leaching or soil erosion or to provide green manure
cover girl
A cover girl is an attractive woman whose photograph appears on the front of a magazine.
cover glass
a thin square of mounted glass used to protect a photographic slide
cover note
a certificate issued by an insurance company stating that a policy is operative : used as a temporary measure between the commencement of cover and the issue of the policy
cover point
a fielding position in the covers
cover price
the price of a newspaper or magazine
cover story
a story that is alluded to or illustrated on the cover of a magazine
dust cover
a perspex cover for the turntable of a record player
duvet cover
the baglike cover into which the duvet is placed when you make a bed and which often makes a top sheet unnecessary
extra cover
a fielding position between cover and mid-off
loose cover
a fitted but easily removable cloth cover for a chair , sofa , etc
seat cover
a cover for a seat
snow cover
a layer of snow on the ground
soft-cover
a book or edition with covers made of flexible card , sold relatively cheaply
take cover
to make for a place of safety or shelter
under cover
If you are under cover , you are under something that protects you from gunfire , bombs , or the weather .
wheel cover
a fancy cover for the wheels of motor vehicles: larger than a hubcap
write cover
If an insurance company writes cover , it underwrites a risk or insures someone.
cover bidding
the act of tendering an artificially high price for a contract , on the assumption that the tender will not be accepted
cover charge
A cover charge is a sum of money that you must pay in some restaurants and nightclubs in addition to the money that you pay there for your food and drink.
cover ground
to move or traverse a certain distance
cover letter
A cover letter is the same as a → covering letter .
cover-mounted
Cover-mounted items such as makeup and CDs are attached to the front of a magazine as free gifts.
cover version
A cover version of a song is a version of it recorded by a singer or band who did not originally perform the song.
cushion cover
a fabric cover, often with a decorative design, designed to protect a cushion
ground cover
dense low herbaceous plants and shrubs that grow over the surface of the ground, esp, in a forest , preventing soil erosion or, in a garden , stifling weeds
manhole cover
a removable metal plate covering a shaft that leads down to a sewer or drain
tonneau cover
a detachable cover to protect the rear part of an open car when it is not carrying passengers
breakdown cover
insurance cover against breakdowns in a vehicle
cover expenses
Expense is the money that something costs you or that you need to spend in order to do something.
cover-shoulder
a type of blouse worn in Ghana
dividend cover
the number of times that a company's dividends to shareholders could be paid out of its annual profits after tax , used as an indication of the probability that dividends will be maintained in subsequent years
indemnity cover
cover providing insurance against damage or loss
mattress cover
a cover that can be put over a mattress before a bed sheet , providing further protection
cover your ass
Cover your ass means the same as → cover your → back 2 .
cut-and-cover
designating a method of constructing a tunnel by excavating a cutting to the required depth and then backfilling the excavation over the tunnel roof
to break cover
If you break cover , you leave a place where you have been hiding or sheltering from attack, usually in order to run to another place.
to take cover
If you take cover , you shelter from gunfire , bombs , or the weather .
under cover of
If you do something under cover of a particular situation , you are able to do it without being noticed because of that situation.
cover one's ass
to take such action as one considers necessary to avoid censure , ridicule , etc at a later time
Chinese translation of 'cover'
cover
(ˈkʌvəʳ)
vt
to cover sth (with sth)(用某物)盖(蓋)着(著)某物 ((yòng mǒuwù) gàizhe mǒuwù)
⇒ She covered her face with her hands.她用手蒙着自己的脸。 (Tā yòng shǒu méngzhe zìjǐ de liǎn.)
(= travel)[distance]行 (xíng)
⇒ We covered twenty kilometres a day.我们每天行20公里。 (Wǒmen měi tiān xíng èrshí gōnglǐ.)