cover

noun

UK /ˈkʌvə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	cover
plural	covers

1
countable something that you put over something else in order to hide it, protect it, or close it
She put plastic covers on all the furniture.
duvet/cushion covers
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
2

the covers
plural sheets and blankets that you lie under in bed
He pulled the covers up and turned out the light.
Synonyms and related words
Bedclothes
afghan
bedclothes
bedding
3
countable the outside page at the front or back of a book or magazine
Her face was once on the cover of Vogue magazine.
read something from cover to cover (=read it all):
On the train I read the newspaper from cover to cover.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of books
acknowledgments
addendum
afterword
1. 3a
  the paper or card on the front of a record or CD
  Synonyms and related words
  Packaging and describing packaging
  blister pack
  bottled
  boxed
4
uncountable Britishan agreement by an insurance company to pay money in a particular situation or for a particular event, person, or thing. The American word is coverage
cover for:
The policy does not provide cover for belongings when they are outside the home.
cover against:
You need to arrange cover against your traveller’s cheques being stolen.
Synonyms and related words
Insuring and insurance
actuarial
actuary
a good/bad risk
5
uncountable places such as buildings or trees where people or animals can hide or shelter from the weather
The troops had to run across open fields with no cover.
run for cover/take cover:
Everybody ran for cover as the hail started to fall.
Synonyms and related words
Places to hide and places to hide things
hiding place
hideaway
retreat
See alsobreak
6
uncountable protection from attack, especially from someone with a gun
give cover:
Detective Philips entered the house while the other officers gave cover.
Synonyms and related words
Gunfire and shooting
come under fire
cover
crossfire
7
countable a legal business that is used for hiding an illegal or secret activity
cover for:
His import-export company was a cover for a drug-smuggling operation.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
1. 7a
  a false story that is used for hiding who someone really is
  His cover was that he was an ordinary fan interested in joining the gang.
  She had to leave the country after her cover was blown.
  Synonyms and related words
  Lies
  lie
  invention
  falsehood
8
uncountable Britishan arrangement in which a person does the work of someone who is away from work
cover for:
The supply teacher provides cover for teachers who are sick.
emergency/holiday/maternity cover:
an agency that provides emergency cover
Synonyms and related words
Types of job or work
baby
busywork
calling
9

cover
or
cover version
countable musica song that is recorded by someone who is not the original performer
They did a brilliant cover of the old Abba song.
Synonyms and related words
Songs
anthem
aria
ballad
10
countable a place for one person at a table in a restaurant
Synonyms and related words
In restaurants and cafes
à la carte
bill
bill of fare
11
countable/uncountable Americana cover charge
Synonyms and related words
In restaurants and cafes
à la carte
bill
bill of fare

phrases

under cover

under cover of night/darkness

under separate cover

cover

noun

US /ˈkʌvər/

Word Forms

singular	cover
plural	covers

1
countable something that you put over something else in order to hide it, protect it, or close it
She put plastic covers on all the furniture.
duvet/cushion covers
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
2
countable the outside page at the front or back of a book or magazine
Her face was once on the cover of Vogue magazine.
read something from cover to cover (=read it all):
On the airplane I read the newspaper from cover to cover.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of books
acknowledgments
addendum
afterword
1. 2a
  the paper or cardboard on the front of a record or CD
  Synonyms and related words
  Packaging and describing packaging
  blister pack
  bottled
  boxed
3
uncountable places such as buildings or trees where people or animals can hide or shelter from the weather
The troops had to run across open fields with no cover.
run for cover/take cover:
Everybody ran for cover as the hail started to fall.
Synonyms and related words
Places to hide and places to hide things
hiding place
harbor
hideaway
See alsobreak
4
uncountable protection from attack, especially from someone with a gun
give cover:
Detective Philips entered the house while the other officers gave cover.
Synonyms and related words
Gunfire and shooting
come under fire
cover
crossfire
5
countable a legal business that is used for hiding an illegal or secret activity
cover for:
His import-export company was a cover for a drug-smuggling operation.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
1. 5a
  a false story that is used for hiding who someone really is
  His cover was that he was just released from prison and was interested in joining the gang.
  She had to leave the country after her cover was blown.
  Synonyms and related words
  Lies
  lie
  invention
  falsehood
6

cover
or
cover version
countable musica song that is recorded by someone who is not the original performer
They did a brilliant cover of the old Abba song.
Synonyms and related words
Songs
alma mater
anthem
aria
7
countable/uncountable Americana cover charge
Synonyms and related words
In restaurants and cafes
à la carte
all-you-can-eat
bill
8
countable a place for one person at a table in a restaurant
Synonyms and related words
In restaurants and cafes
à la carte
all-you-can-eat
bill
9

the covers
plural sheets and blankets that you lie under in bed
He pulled the covers up and turned out the light.
Synonyms and related words
Bedclothes
afghan
bedclothes
bedding
10
uncountable Britishcoverage that an insurance agreement gives you
Synonyms and related words
Insuring and insurance
actuarial
actuary
adjuster
11
uncountable Britishan arrangement in which a person does the work of someone who is away from work
Synonyms and related words
Types of job or work
baby
busywork
calling

phrases

under cover

under cover of night/darkness

under separate cover

cover

verb transitive

UK /ˈkʌvə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	cover
he/she/it	covers
present participle	covering
past tense	covered
past participle	covered

1

cover
or
cover over
or
cover up
to put one thing over another, in order to protect or hide it
Cover the food until you are ready to eat it.
cover someone/something with something:
They covered her with a blanket.
be covered with/by something:
The floor was covered with plastic sheeting.
Synonyms and related words
To hide, or to hide something
hide
cover
obscure
1. 1a
  to be on top of something
  A rug covered the hole in the carpet.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2. 1b
  to put your hands over your eyes, ears, or mouth
  Bob covered his eyes, unable to look at the body.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2
to be all over a surface or object
Bruises covered his entire body.
be covered with/in something:
His clothes were covered in mud.
All the furniture was covered with dust.
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat
1. 2a
  to spread something all over a surface or object
  They covered the path with rose petals.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2. 2b
  to spread or lie all over an area of land
  Dense forest covers the lower slopes of the mountain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
3
to include and deal with a particular situation, subject, period of history etc
Section 5 covers holiday allowances for part-time workers.
Her new book covers the period from 1870 to 1918.
The programme covers all aspects of health and safety at work.
Synonyms and related words
To include something or someone
include
take in
involve
1. 3a
  if a law, rule, or contract covers a particular situation, type of person etc, it includes or deals with that situation or person
  The rights of unmarried fathers are not covered by this legislation.
  Synonyms and related words
  To include something or someone
  include
  take in
  involve
4
to give a report or description of an event on television or radio, or in a newspaper
We will be covering the game live on Saturday afternoon.
Clare Gray covered the Paris fashion shows for The Times.
Synonyms and related words
Journalism and relating to journalism
backstory
blackout
chequebook journalism
5
to have enough money to pay for something
We need £1,000 a month to cover the rent.
Synonyms and related words
To have just enough money
afford
eke out
subsist
6
if an insurance agreement covers a situation or person, it provides protection against loss for that situation or person
The warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse of the product.
cover someone for something:
His car insurance covers him for business use.
cover someone to do something:
Are you covered to drive a truck?
cover someone against something:
You need to be covered against fire.
Synonyms and related words
Insuring and insurance
actuarial
actuary
a good/bad risk
7
to travel a particular distance
We had to cover the last three miles on foot.
Synonyms and related words
To travel in a vehicle
go
ride
commute
8
musicto perform or record a song that was first performed by someone else
Her new album covers some old Beatles classics.
Synonyms and related words
To sing
sing
sing along
croon
9
to protect someone from attack by pointing a gun at someone who might shoot them
His partner covered him while he ran across the prison yard.
Synonyms and related words
To protect or defend someone or something
protect
defend
save
Synonyms and related words
To use a gun
aim
at gunpoint
cock
1. 9a
  to prevent someone from moving or escaping by pointing a gun towards them
  You go first while we cover the back door.
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a gun
  aim
  at gunpoint
  cock
10
in some sports, to stay very close to an opposing player in order to prevent them from scoring a goal or getting a point
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in a game or sport
blank
block
bully off

phrases

cover all the bases

cover your tracks

cover yourself

phrasal verbs

cover for

cover up

cover

verb transitive

US /ˈkʌvər/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	cover
he/she/it	covers
present participle	covering
past tense	covered
past participle	covered

1

cover
or
cover over
or
cover up
to put one thing over another, in order to protect or hide it
Cover the food until you are ready to eat it.
cover someone/something with something:
They covered her with a blanket.
be covered with/by something:
The floor was covered with a sheet of plastic.
Synonyms and related words
To hide, or to hide something
hide
cover
obscure
1. 1a
  to be on top of something
  A rug covered the hole in the carpet.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2. 1b
  to put your hands over your eyes, ears, or mouth
  Bob covered his eyes, unable to look at the body.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2
to be all over a surface or object
Bruises covered his entire body.
be covered with/in something:
His clothes were covered with mud.
All the furniture was covered with dust.
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat
1. 2a
  to spread something all over a surface or object
  They covered the path with rose petals.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2. 2b
  to spread or lie all over an area of land
  Dense forest covers the lower slopes of the mountain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
3
to include and deal with a particular situation, subject, period of history, etc.
Section 5 covers vacation allowances for part-time workers.
Her new book covers the period from 1870 to 1918.
The program covers all aspects of health and safety at work.
Synonyms and related words
To include something or someone
include
take in
involve
1. 3a
  if a law, rule, or contract covers a particular situation, type of person, etc., it includes or deals with that situation or person
  The rights of unmarried fathers are not covered by this legislation.
  Synonyms and related words
  To include something or someone
  include
  take in
  involve
4
to give a report or description of an event on television or radio, or in a newspaper
We will be covering the game live on Saturday afternoon.
Clare Gray covered the Paris fashion shows for the paper.
Synonyms and related words
Journalism and relating to journalism
backstory
blackout
checkbook journalism
5
if an insurance agreement covers a situation or person, it provides protection against loss for that situation or person
The warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse of the product.
cover someone for something:
His car insurance covers him for business use.
cover someone to do something:
Are you covered to drive a truck?
cover someone against something:
You need to be covered against fire.
Synonyms and related words
Insuring and insurance
actuarial
actuary
adjuster
6
to have enough money to pay for something
We need $700 a month to cover the rent.
Synonyms and related words
To have just enough money
afford
eke out
subsist
7
to travel a particular distance
We had to cover the last three miles on foot.
Synonyms and related words
To travel in a vehicle
go
ride
commute
8
musicto perform or record a song that was first performed by someone else
Her new album covers some old Beatles classics.
Synonyms and related words
To sing
sing
sing along
croon
9
to protect someone from attack by pointing a gun at someone who might shoot them
His partner covered him while he ran across the prison yard.
Synonyms and related words
To protect or defend someone or something
protect
defend
save
Synonyms and related words
To use a gun
aim
at gunpoint
cock
1. 9a
  to prevent someone from moving or escaping by pointing a gun toward them
  You go first while we cover the back door.
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a gun
  aim
  at gunpoint
  cock
10
in some sports, to stay very close to an opposing player in order to prevent them from scoring a goal or getting a point
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in a game or sport
blank
block
bobble

phrases

cover all the bases

cover your ass/butt

cover your tracks

cover yourself

phrasal verbs

cover for

cover up

cover ​‌‌‌

the covers

cover

cover version

cover ​‌‌‌

cover

cover version

the covers

cover ​‌‌‌

cover

cover over

cover up

cover ​‌‌‌

cover

cover over

cover up

cover

cover

cover

cover