ˈkʌvə v. & n. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by with)
protect or
conceal by
means of a
cloth,
lid, etc. 2 a
extend over;
occupy the whole surface of (covered in
dirt; covered
with writing). b (often foll. by with)
strew thickly or thoroughly (covered the
floor with straw). c lie over; be a
covering to (the
blanket scarcely covered him). 3 a protect;
clothe. b (as covered adj.) wearing a
hat; having a
roof. 4
include;
comprise; deal with (the
talk covered
recent discoveries). 5
travel (a specified distance) (covered
sixty miles). 6
Journalism a
report (events, a
meeting, etc.). b
investigate as a
reporter. 7 be
enough to
defray (expenses, a bill, etc.) (ø20
should cover it). 8 a refl.
take precautionary measures so as to protect
oneself (had covered
myself by
saying I might be late). b (absol.; foll. by for)
deputize or
stand in
for (a
colleague etc.) (will
you cover for me?). 9
Mil. a
aim a
gun etc.
at. b (of a
fortress, guns, etc.)
command (a territory). c stand
behind (a
person in the
front rank). d protect (an exposed person etc.) by
being able to
return fire. 10 a
esp. Cricket stand behind (another player) to
stop any missed balls. b (in
team games) mark (a corresponding
player of the
other side). 11 (also absol.) (in
some card-games)
play a card higher
than (one
already played to the
same trick). 12 (of a
stallion, a bull, etc.)
copulate with. --n. 1
something that covers or protects, esp.: a a lid. b the
binding of a
book. c
either board of
this. d an
envelope or the
wrapper of a
parcel (under
separate cover). e the
outer case of a
pneumatic tyre. f (in pl.)
bedclothes. 2 a hiding-place; a
shelter. 3 woods or
undergrowth sheltering game or covering the ground (see COVERT). 4 a a
pretence; a
screen (under cover of humility). b a spy's pretended
identity or
activity,
intended as concealment. c Mil. a supporting force protecting an
advance party
from attack. 5 a funds, esp. obtained by
insurance, to meet a
liability or
secure against a
contingent loss. b the
state of being protected (third-party cover). 6 a
place setting at
table, esp. in a
restaurant. 7 Cricket = cover-point. øbreak cover (of an
animal, esp. game, or a hunted person) leave a place of shelter, esp.
vegetation. cover
charge an
extra charge levied
per head in a restaurant,
nightclub, etc. cover
crop a crop
grown for the
protection and enrichment of the soil. cover-drive Cricket a
drive past cover-point. cover
girl a
female model whose picture appears on
magazine covers etc. cover in
provide with a roof etc. covering
letter (or note) an
explanatory letter
sent with an
enclosure. cover
note Brit. a
temporary certificate of
current insurance. cover-point Cricket 1 a fielding
position on the
off side and
half way to the
boundary. 2 a
fielder at this position. cover story a
news story in a magazine, that is illustrated or advertised on the front cover. cover one's tracks conceal
evidence of
what one has done. cover up 1 completely cover or conceal. 2 conceal (circumstances
etc., esp. illicitly) (also absol. : refused to cover up for them). cover-up n. an
act of concealing circumstances, esp. illicitly. from cover to cover from
beginning to
end of a book etc. take cover
use a
natural or prepared shelter against an attack. øøcoverable adj. coverer n. [ME f. OF covrir, cuvrir f. L cooperire (as
CO-, operire opertcover)]