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cover

/ˈkʌvə/

noun

Meaning

  • A lid.

  • Area or situation which screens a person or thing from view.

    "The soldiers took cover behind a ruined building."

  • The front and back of a book, magazine, CD package, etc.

  • The top sheet of a bed.

  • A cloth, usually fitted, placed over an item such as a car or sofa to protect it from dust, rain, etc. when not in use.

  • A cover charge.

    "There's a $15 cover tonight."

  • A setting at a restaurant table or formal dinner.

    "We need to set another cover for the Smith party."

  • A new performance or rerecording of a previously recorded song; a cover version; a cover song.

  • A fielding position on the off side, between point and mid off, about 30° forward of square; a fielder in this position.

  • A set (more often known as a family) of sets, whose union contains the given set.

    "The open intervals are a cover for the real numbers."

  • An envelope complete with stamps and postmarks etc.

  • A solid object, including terrain, that provides protection from enemy fire.

  • In commercial law, a buyer’s purchase on the open market of goods similar or identical to the goods contracted for after a seller has breached a contract of sale by failure to deliver the goods contracted for.

  • An insurance contract; coverage by an insurance contract.

  • A persona maintained by a spy or undercover operative; cover story.

  • A swindler's confederate.

  • The portion of a slate, tile, or shingle that is hidden by the overlap of the course above.

  • In a steam engine, the lap of a slide valve.

  • The distance between reinforcing steel and the exterior of concrete.

verb

Meaning

  • To place something over or upon, as to conceal or protect.

    "He covered the baby with a blanket."

  • To be over or upon, as to conceal or protect.

    "The blanket covered the baby."

  • To be upon all of, so as to completely conceal.

    "Regular hexagons can cover the plane."

  • To set upon all of, so as to completely conceal.

    "You can cover the plane with regular hexagons."

  • To put on one's hat.

  • To invest (oneself with something); to bring upon (oneself).

    "The heroic soldier covered himself with glory."

  • (of a publication) To discuss thoroughly; to provide coverage of.

    "The magazine covers such diverse topics as politics, news from the world of science, and the economy."

  • To deal with or include someone or something.

  • To be enough money for.

    "Ten dollars should cover lunch."

  • To act as a replacement.

    "I need to take off Tuesday. Can you cover for me?"

  • To have as an assignment or responsibility.

    "Can you cover the morning shift tomorrow? I'll give you off next Monday instead."

  • To make a cover version of (a song that was originally recorded by another artist).

  • (law enforcement) To protect using an aimed firearm and the threat of firing; or to protect using continuous, heaving fire at or in the direction of the enemy so as to force the enemy to remain in cover; or to threaten using an aimed firearm.

  • To provide insurance coverage for.

    "Does my policy cover accidental loss?"

  • To copulate with (said of certain male animals such as dogs and horses).

    "I would like to have my bitch covered next spring."

  • To protect or control (a piece or square).

    "In order to checkmate a king on the side of the board, the five squares adjacent to the king must all be covered."

  • To extend over a given period of time or range, to occupy, to stretch over a given area.

  • To defend a particular player or area.

Synonyms

impregnate

adjective

Meaning

  • Of or pertaining to the front cover of a book or magazine.

  • Of, pertaining to, or consisting of cover versions.