cover

  • verb 1 put something over or in front of (someone or something) so as to protect or conceal. 2 spread or extend over. 3 deal with. 4 travel (a specified distance). 5 (of money) be enough to pay for. 6 (of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident. 7 (cover up) try to hide or deny the fact of (a wrongful action). 8 (cover for) temporarily take over the job of. 9 aim a gun at. protect (an exposed person) by shooting at the enemy. (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opponent). record or perform a cover version of (a song). (of a male animal, especially a stallion) copulate with (a female animal).

  • noun 1 something that covers or protects. 2 a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine. 3 shelter: they ran for cover. 4 military support for someone in danger. 5 a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity. 6 Brit. protection by insurance. 7 a place setting at a table in a restaurant. 8 (also cover version) a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by a different artist.

  — PHRASES break cover suddenly leave shelter when being pursued. cover one’s back informal take steps to avoid attack or criticism. under cover of 1 concealed by. 2 while pretending to do something. under separate cover in a separate envelope.

  — DERIVATIVES covering noun.

  — ORIGIN Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from operire ‘to cover’.

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