# cover

Pronunciation: US say "KUV-ur" /ˈkʌvɚ/; say "KUV-uh" UK /ˈkʌvə/, AUS /ˈkɐvə/

## Verb

1. To put something over or lie over something so as to hide or protect it.
   - Simple: To put something over a thing, or be over it, to hide or protect it.
   - _A heavy tarp covered the woodpile and kept the logs dry all winter._
   - _Loose boards cover the well to stop anyone falling in._
2. To deal with or include someone or something within a larger scope.
   - Simple: To include or deal with something as part of a whole.
   - _The new policy covers all employees, including part-time staff._
   - _These rules cover every member of the club._
3. To discuss something thoroughly, or to report on it as a news story.
   - Simple: To talk about a subject fully, or to report news about it.
   - _Her article covers the history of the canal in remarkable depth._
   - _Several networks cover the election results live._
4. To extend across an area or range, or to stretch over a given period of time.
   - Simple: To spread across a space or last over a length of time.
   - _Her old diaries cover nearly ten years of life on the family farm._
   - _Their grazing lands cover everything from the river to the ridge._
6. To pay for something, or to be enough money to pay for it.
   - Simple: To pay for the cost of something.
   - _The company covers travel expenses for all staff._
   - _He offered to cover the repair costs himself._
8. To record or perform a new version of a song that was originally released by another artist.
   - Simple: To record or perform your own version of a song that another singer made first.
   - _Her trio covered a forgotten jazz standard for the encore._
   - _Tribute groups cover entire albums note for note._
9. Of an insurance policy, to include a particular loss or risk so that its costs will be paid.
   - Simple: To pay for a loss or cost under an insurance plan.
   - _Their homeowner's policy covers flood damage up to a set limit._
   - _Make sure the plan will cover prescription drugs._
15. To take over another person's duties or role temporarily while they are away.
   - Simple: To take someone's place at a job for a short time.
   - _While Maria is on vacation, Ben will cover for her at the front desk._
   - _He covered at the front desk until the receptionist returned._
12. To travel across or put behind a particular distance over the course of a journey.
   - Simple: To travel a certain distance from one point to another.
   - _The convoy covered the last stretch of desert by nightfall._
   - _Migrating geese cover thousands of miles each autumn._
17. To guard a particular opposing player or area of the field to prevent them from scoring.
   - Simple: To stay close to a player on the other team to stop them from scoring.
   - _The center back covered the far post on every corner._
   - _Quick guards cover the perimeter against three-point shooters._
20. To provide an alibi, excuse, or apology for someone in order to protect them from blame.
   - Simple: To tell a story that keeps someone else out of trouble.
   - _When she came in late, her coworkers covered for her and said she was in a meeting._
   - _His friends promised to cover for him by saying he had been with them all night._
22. To take on a particular duty or task as one's responsibility.
   - Simple: To take care of a task or shift, often in place of someone else.
   - _Let's divide the work: I'll cover the research and you can write the report._
   - _Each nurse covers a different ward during the night._
23. To protect someone or something from attack, especially by aiming or firing a weapon at the enemy.
   - Simple: To protect someone from attack, often by being ready to shoot.
   - _Two soldiers stayed by the doorway to cover the others with their rifles while they searched the house._
   - _The bodyguards covered the senator as she crossed the plaza._

## Noun

5. The front and back outer parts of a book, magazine, or similar package.
   - Simple: The outer front and back of a book or magazine.
   - _The novel's cover featured a moody photograph of the coast._
   - _He judged the album by its cover and bought it on sight._
7. A new performance or recording of a song that was originally recorded by another artist.
   - Simple: A new version of a song first recorded by someone else.
   - _His acoustic cover of the rock anthem went viral overnight._
   - _The album closes with a soulful cover of a 1960s classic._
10. Something placed over or around an object to close or protect it, such as a lid, a fitted cloth, or a case.
   - Simple: Something you put over or around a thing to close or protect it, like a lid or a case.
   - _She lifted the cover off the saucepan to check the rice._
   - _The kettle's cover had warped and no longer sat flush._
16. The layer of cloth or bedding spread over the top of a bed.
   - Simple: The cloth layer that lies on top of a bed to keep you warm.
   - _The child kicked the cover off in the middle of the night._
   - _A light cover is enough on warm summer evenings._
11. Shelter or concealment; something that hides a person or thing or protects them from attack.
   - Simple: A place or thing that hides you or keeps you safe from danger.
   - _Under cover of fog, the boat slipped out of the harbor._
   - _The spy used the crowd as cover to avoid being spotted._
18. An insurance contract, or the protection it provides against specified losses.
   - Simple: Protection from an insurance plan that pays when something goes wrong.
   - _The policy provides cover for fire and theft but not flooding._
   - _She extended her cover to include accidental damage._
19. A false identity or persona that a spy or secret agent maintains to conceal their true role.
   - Simple: A false identity that a spy uses to hide their real job.
   - _He kept his cover even under hours of hostile questioning._
   - _A single slip of the tongue can blow a carefully built cover._
21. The fixed charge for entry to a club, bar, or venue, often one with live music.
   - Simple: The fee you pay just to get into a club or bar.
   - _We skipped the show once we heard the cover had doubled._
   - _A modest cover keeps the room from getting too crowded._
14. A place set for one diner at a restaurant table or at a formal dinner.
   - Simple: A place set for one person to eat at a restaurant table or a formal dinner.
   - _The host asked the staff to lay a cover for the ambassador at the head table._
   - _By six o'clock the staff had set out covers for ninety guests in the main dining room._

## Adjective

13. Relating to or appearing on the front of a book or magazine.
   - Simple: Relating to the front of a book or magazine.
   - _Editors argued for hours over the cover photo._
   - _Her debut novel earned a glowing cover blurb from a famous author._
24. Consisting of or relating to versions of songs originally recorded by other artists.
   - Simple: Made up of songs first recorded by other artists.
   - _The festival booked three cover acts for the closing night._
   - _His cover set leaned heavily on seventies rock._

## Other meanings

- (verb) To protect or control a piece or square so that an opponent cannot safely move there or make a capture.
- (noun) In cricket, the place on the off side where a fielder stands between point and mid-off, roughly 30 degrees forward of square; also the fielder who stands there.
- (noun) A waterproof sheet or frame laid over the pitch to keep it dry when it rains.
- (noun) The part of the stumps that a batter shields with the body while protecting the wicket.
- (noun) A spare player added to a squad in case someone is hurt in practice or partway through a series.
- (noun) In set theory, a collection of sets drawn from a given set that between them include each of its members.
- (noun) A whole posted envelope, kept with its stamps and postal markings, as collected by stamp enthusiasts.
- (noun) A substitute purchase of matching goods on the open market that a buyer makes when a seller breaks a sales contract by not delivering.
- (noun) An accomplice who helps a con artist carry out a swindle.
- (noun) On a roof, the area of each slate or shingle that is concealed once the next row is laid over it.
- (noun) The amount by which a slide valve in a steam engine overlaps the steam port.
- (noun) The thickness of concrete between the steel reinforcement and the outer surface.
- (verb) To put one's hat on, especially again after removing it as a mark of respect.
- (verb) To wrap oneself in some quality, or to draw something on oneself.
- (verb) To run a local station's own content during a break in a syndicated show, in place of what the network supplies.
- (verb) Of a male animal such as a horse or dog, to mate with a female.
- (verb) To lay a table with plates, cutlery, and other things needed for a meal.

## Origin

The verb was borrowed into Middle English as coveren from Old French covrir (now couvrir). The French came from Late Latin coperire and earlier Latin cooperiō ("I cover completely"), made of the intensive prefix co- and operiō ("I close, cover"). Spanish cubrir is a cognate. The original sense is thought to have been "hide from view," as in the related word covert.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cover (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).