Search results for 'cover':

cover verb (covered, covering) 1 to form a layer over someone or something. 2 to protect or conceal someone or something by putting something over them or it. 3 to clothe. 4 to extend over something. 5 to strew, sprinkle, spatter, mark all over, etc. 6 (usually cover with something) to bring (a feeling, etc) upon oneself, often in an overwhelming way. 7 to deal with (a subject). 8 said of a reporter, etc: to investigate or report on (a story). 9 to have as one's area of responsibility. 10 to travel (a distance). 11 to be adequate to pay • He had enough money to cover the meal. 12 to insure; to insure against something. 13 to threaten by aiming a gun at someone or something. 14 to keep (a building, its exits, etc) under armed watch. 15 to shield with a firearm at the ready or with actual fire. 16 sport to protect (a fellow team-member) or obstruct (an opponent). 17 said of a stallion, bull, etc: to mate with (a female). 18 said of a bird: to sit on (eggs). 19 to record a cover version of (a song, etc). 20 intrans (usually cover for someone) to take over the duties of an absent colleague, etc. noun 1 something that covers. 2 a lid, top, protective casing, etc. 3 the covering of something. 4 (covers) the sheets and blankets on a bed. 5 the paper or board binding of a book, magazine, etc; one side of this. 6 an envelope • a first-day cover. 7 shelter or protection. 8 insurance. 9 service • emergency cover. 10 a pretence; a screen; a false identity • His cover as a salesman was blown. 11 armed protection; protective fire. 12 cricket see cover point. 13 in restaurants, etc: an individual place setting at table. 14 a cover version. under cover 1 in secret. 2 within shelter. under cover of something using it as a protection or pretense. under plain cover in a plain envelope without tradename, etc. under separate cover in a separate envelope or parcel.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French covrir, from Latin cooperire to cover completely.