Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - cover-up

 noun  Date: 1927  1.  a. a device or stratagem for masking or concealing his garrulousness is a ~ for insecurity  b. a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public  2. a loose outer garment COVET  verb  Etymology: Middle English coveiten, from Anglo-French coveiter, from Vulgar Latin *cupidietare, from Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas desire, from cupidus desirous, from cupere to desire  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to wish for earnestly ~ an award  2. to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably  intransitive verb to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another  Synonyms: see desire  • ~able adjective  • ~er noun  • ~ingly adverb