cover

verb

• 1put something on top of or in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it:the table had been covered with a checked tablecloth her husband had covered up his bald patch
• envelop in a layer of something, especially dirt:he was covered in mud figurativeshe was covered in confusion
• scatter a layer of loose material over (a floor or other surface), leaving it obscured:the barn floor was covered in straw
• lie over or adhere to (a surface), as decoration or to conceal something:masonry paint will cover hairline cracks

• 2extend over (an area):the grounds covered eight acres
• travel (a specified distance):it took them four days to cover 150 miles

• 3deal with (a subject) by describing or analysing its most important aspects or events:a sequence of novels that will cover the period from 1968 to the present
• investigate, report on, or show pictures of (an event):Channel 4 are covering the match
• have responsibility for or provide services to (a particular area):development officers whose work would cover a large area
• (of a rule or law) apply to (a person or situation): the offence covers a wide spectrum of culpability

• 4(of a sum of money) be enough to pay (a cost):there are grants to cover the cost of materials for loft insulation
• (of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences:your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit
• (cover oneself) take precautionary measures so as to protect oneself against future blame or liability:one reason doctors take temperatures is to cover themselves against negligence claims

• 5disguise the sound or fact of (something) with another sound or action:Louise laughed to cover her embarrassment
• [no object] (cover for) disguise the illicit absence or wrongdoing of (someone) in order to spare them punishment:if the sergeant wants to know where you are, I’ll cover for you
• [no object] (cover for) temporarily take over the job of (a colleague) in their absence: during August ministers cover for other ministers

• 6aim a gun at (someone) in order to prevent them from moving or escaping: she raised her gun to cover Klift
• protect (an exposed person) by shooting at an enemy: (as adjective covering)we retreated behind spurts of covering fire
• (of a fortress, gun, or cannon) have (an area) within range.
• chiefly Cricket stand behind (another player) to stop any missed balls.
• (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opposing player).
• Baseball be in position at (a base) ready to catch the ball: he moved to cover second base

• 7record or perform a new version of (a song) originally performed by someone else:other artists who have covered the song include U2

• 8(of a male animal, especially a stallion) copulate with (a female animal): a working stallion who has covered forty mares this season

• 9 Bridge play a higher card on (a high card) in a trick: the ploy will fail if the ten is covered [no object]:East covered with his queen

noun

• 1a thing which lies on, over, or around something, especially in order to protect or conceal it:a seat cover a duvet cover
• a thin solid object that seals a container or hole; a lid:a manhole cover
• a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine:the year that Crime and Punishment appeared in hard covers
• (the covers) bedclothes:she burrowed down beneath the covers

• 2 [mass noun] shelter or protection sought by people in danger:the sirens wailed and we ran for cover
• undergrowth or trees used as a shelter by animals:the standing crops of game coverSee also covert (sense 1 of the noun).
• military support given when someone is being attacked:they agreed to provide additional naval cover
• an activity or organization used as a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity:the restaurant was run as a cover for a money-laundering operation
• [in singular] an identity adopted by a spy to conceal their true activities:he was worried that their cover was blown

• 3 [mass noun] British protection by insurance against a liability, loss, or accident:your policy provides cover against damage by subsidence

• 4 (also cover version) a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by a different artist: the band played covers of Beatles songs

• 5a place setting at a table in a restaurant: the busiest time is in summer, with up to a thousand covers for three meals a day

  [rendering French couvert]

• 6 Cricketshort for cover point.an easy catch by Hick at cover
• (the covers) an area of the field consisting of cover point and extra cover: deliveries pitching outside leg stump are pounded through the covers

• 7 Ecology the amount of ground covered by a vertical projection of the vegetation, usually expressed as a percentage.