Cover Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on March 7, 2024
Cover means to place something over or upon, as for protection or concealment. e.g., She used a blanket to cover the sleeping child.
Table of Contents
Cover Definitions
To deal with or include something in discussion or publication.
The book covers the history of Europe extensively.
To travel or pass over an area.
The hikers covered 20 miles in one day.
To hide from view; conceal.
The fog covered the coastline, making navigation difficult.
To assume responsibility for or protect by providing an alibi or equivalent.
His colleague covered for him while he was on vacation.
To record or perform a version of (a song) originally performed by someone else.
The band covered an old hit from the '80s.
To place something upon or over, so as to protect or conceal
Covered the boat with a tarp.
Covered the photo with his hand.
To overlay or spread with something
Cover the potatoes with gravy.
To put a cover or covering on
Covered jar with a lid.
To hide or screen from view or knowledge; conceal. Often used with up
He tried to cover up his mistakes.
To do something that gains for (oneself) a quality or association
The mountain climbers covered themselves in glory.
To be spread over the surface of
Dust covered the table. Your boots are covered with mud.
To lie over or adhere to so as to protect or conceal
The rug covers the gouges in the floor. Paint covers the stains on the ceiling.
To extend over
A farm covering more than 100 acres.
To travel or pass over
They covered 60 miles in two days.
To have as one's territory or sphere of work
A sales rep who covers the Southwest.
To protect from loss. Used of insurance
A new policy that will cover all our camera equipment.
To take measures to prevent (oneself) from being held responsible for something
With the memo he is covering himself in case something goes wrong.
To be enough to pay for or make up for
Will $100 cover the bill?.
To have as a subject; deal with
The book covers the feminist movement.
To be responsible for reporting the details of (an event or situation)
Two reporters covered the scandal.
To apply to or take into account
The law does not cover all crimes.
To protect by having within range or by firing a weapon
The fort's guns cover the entire harbor.
To aim a firearm at
Keep these dangerous suspects covered.
To guard (an opponent playing offense).
To defend (a position or area)
Cover third base.
Cover the backcourt.
To match (an opponent's stake) in a wager.
To purchase (stock that one has shorted).
(Games) To play a higher-ranking card than (the one previously played).
To perform or record (music previously recorded or popularized by another)
Covered a classic rock ballad from the 1970s.
To perform or record music first recorded or popularized by (another)
A band that specializes in covering the Beatles.
To copulate with (a female). Used especially of horses.
To spread over a surface to protect or conceal something
A paint that covers well.
To act as a substitute or replacement during someone's absence
Her assistant covered for her.
To hide something in order to save someone from censure or punishment
Cover up for a colleague.
(Games) To play a higher card than the one previously played.
A lid or top.
A binding or outer part for a book or magazine.
A bedcover.
A protective overlay, as for a mattress or furniture.
Shelter or protection
The sheep seek cover in the cave when it snows.
Strategic protection given by armed units during hostile action
The battleship approached the combat zone under a cover of fighter planes.
Something, such as vegetation, covering the surface of the ground.
Vegetation, such as underbrush, serving as protective concealment for wild animals.
Something, such as darkness, that screens, conceals, or disguises.
A false identity, especially for a spy.
An activity or organization that is used to conceal an illegal or secret activity
A man who sold paintings as a cover for spying.
A layer of clouds obscuring the sky or ground.
A table setting for one person
Covers were laid for ten.
A cover charge.
An envelope or wrapper for mail.
Funds sufficient to meet an obligation or secure against loss.
One who substitutes for another
Who is your cover for tonight's shift?.
(Music) A recording or performance of a song that was previously recorded or popularized by another.
A lid.
(uncountable) 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 or similar material, often fitted, placed over an item such as a car or sofa or food to protect it from dust, rain, insects, etc. when not being used.
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.
(music) A new performance or rerecording of a previously recorded song; a cover version; a cover song.
(cricket) A fielding position on the off side, between point and mid off, about 30° forward of square; a fielder in this position.
A collection (or family) of subsets of a given set, whose union contains every element of said original set.
The open intervals are a cover for the real numbers.
(philately) An envelope complete with stamps and postmarks etc.
(military) A solid object, including terrain, that provides protection from enemy fire.
(legal) 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.
(insurance) An insurance contract; coverage by an insurance contract.
(espionage) A persona maintained by a spy or undercover operative; cover story.
(dated) 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.
(construction) The distance between reinforcing steel and the exterior of concrete.
Of or pertaining to the front cover of a book or magazine.
(music) Of, pertaining to, or consisting of cover versions.
(transitive) To place something over or upon, as to conceal or protect.
He covered the baby with a blanket.
When the pot comes to a boil, cover it and reduce the heat to medium.
(transitive) To be over or upon, as to conceal or protect.
The blanket covered the baby.
(transitive) To be upon all of, so as to completely conceal.
Regular hexagons can cover the plane.
(transitive) To set upon all of, so as to completely conceal.
You can cover the plane with regular hexagons.
To put on one's hat.
(transitive) 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.
We've earned enough to cover most of our costs.
Ten dollars should cover lunch.
(intransitive) To act as a replacement.
I need to take off Tuesday. Can you cover for me?
(transitive) To have as an assignment or responsibility.
Can you cover the morning shift tomorrow? I'll give you off next Monday instead.
He is our salesman covering companies with headquarters in the northern provinces.
(music) To make a cover version of (a song that was originally recorded by another artist).
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.
The stallion has not covered the mare yet.
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 traverse or put behind a certain distance.
(sports) To defend (mark) a particular player or area.
To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.
To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
And with the majesty of darkness roundCovers his throne.
All that beauty than doth cover thee.
To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.
The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland.
To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods.
A cloud covered the mount.
In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
To brood or sit on; to incubate.
While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs.
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen.
To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat.
His calm and blameless lifeDoes with substantial blessedness abound,And the soft wings of peace cover him round.
To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
To put the usual covering or headdress on.
Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered.
To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; - said of the male.
To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet.
Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak.
A handsome cover for imperfections.
Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.
Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire.
The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
The lap of a slide valve.
A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.
Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship.
A covering that serves to conceal or shelter something;
They crouched behind the screen
Under cover of darkness
Bedding that keeps a person warm in bed;
He pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep
The act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it;
The cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft
The front and back covering of a book;
The book had a leather binding
A natural object that covers or envelops;
Under a covering of dust
The fox was flushed from its cover
Covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container);
He removed the top of the carton
He couldn't get the top off of the bottle
Put the cover back on the kettle
Fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations;
Artillery provided covering fire for the withdrawal
A fixed charge by a restaurant or night club over and above the charge for food and drink
A recording of a song that was first recorded or made popular by somebody else;
They made a cover of a Beatles' song
A false identity and background (especially one created for an undercover agent);
Her new name and passport are cover for her next assignment
Provide with a covering or cause to be covered;
Cover her face with a handkerchief
Cover the child with a blanket
Cover the grave with flowers
Form a cover over;
The grass covered the grave
Span an interval of distance, space or time;
The war extended over five years
The period covered the turn of the century
My land extends over the hills on the horizon
This farm covers some 200 acres
Provide for;
The grant doesn't cover my salary
Deal with verbally or in some form of artistic expression;
This book deals with incest
The course covered all of Western Civilization
The new book treats the history of China
Include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory;
This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds
This should cover everyone in the group
Travel across or pass over;
The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day
Be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism;
Snow reported on China in the 1950's
The cub reporter covered New York City
Hold within range of an aimed firearm
To take an action to protect against future problems;
Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself
Hide from view or knowledge;
The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White House
Protect or defend (a position in a game);
He covered left field
Maintain a check on; especially by patrolling;
The second officer covered the top floor
Protect by insurance;
The insurance won't cover this
Make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities;
He is compensating for being a bad father
Invest with a large or excessive amount of something;
She covered herself with glory
Help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities;
She is covering for our secretary who is ill this week
Be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of;
Is this enough to cover the check?
Spread over a surface to conceal or protect;
This paint covers well
Cover as if with a shroud;
The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery
Copulate with a female, used especially of horses;
The horse covers the mare
Put something on top of something else;
Cover the meat with a lot of gravy
Play a higher card than the one previously played;
Smith covered again
Be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
Sit on (eggs);
Birds brood
The female covers the eggs
Clothe, as if for protection from the elements;
Cover your head!
To act as a protection or shield for.
The vaccine covers individuals against the disease.
To be enough to pay for.
His savings were just enough to cover the expenses.
To overlay or spread over a surface.
Snow covered the hills entirely.
To report on, especially as a journalist.
She went to cover the international conference for her newspaper.
To provide insurance for.
Their policy covers all forms of natural disasters.
Cover Snonyms
Veil
To cover, provide, obscure, or conceal with or as if with a veil.
The bride's face was veiled.
Envelop
To wrap up, cover, or surround completely.
Fog enveloped the city.
Shroud
To cover or envelop so as to conceal from view.
Mist shrouded the mountains.
Blanket
To cover with or as if with a blanket; to apply to all cases.
Snow blanketed the countryside.
Conceal
To keep from sight; hide.
She used a blanket to conceal the gift.
Cloak
To cover or hide with or as if with a cloak.
She cloaked her intentions with a smile.
Screen
To protect, conceal, or separate with or as if with a screen.
Trees screened the house from view.
Mask
To cover with a mask or disguise.
He masked his disappointment.
Occlude
To stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage).
Thick makeup can occlude the pores.
Disguise
To change the customary dress or appearance of.
They disguised themselves as locals.
Cover Idioms & Phrases
Take cover
To protect oneself from danger.
They took cover when the storm hit.
Cover ground
To discuss or deal with various topics or areas.
The meeting covered a lot of ground.
Cover one's tracks
To hide one's actions or intentions.
The thief covered his tracks by wiping all fingerprints.
Under cover of
Concealed or protected by.
They escaped under cover of darkness.
Cover story
A lead story in a magazine or newspaper.
Her interview was the cover story in last month's issue.
Undercover
Working or done secretly, especially in a detective or investigative capacity.
The officer went undercover to gather evidence.
Cover all bases
To consider and address all aspects or contingencies.
Make sure to cover all bases in your report.
Cover one's ass (CYA)
To take action to protect oneself from future blame or repercussions.
He documented everything to cover his ass.
Blow one's cover
To reveal one's true identity or purpose.
The spy's mistake blew his cover.
Cover the spread
In betting, to win a bet by a margin greater than the point spread.
The team needed to win by more than 5 points to cover the spread.
Cover charge
An entrance fee for a bar or nightclub, often including the cost of the first drink.
The club has a $10 cover charge on weekends.
Cover one's mouth
To place a hand over the mouth, often in surprise or to prevent oneself from speaking.
She covered her mouth in shock at the news.
Cover fire
Gunfire intended to inhibit enemy movement or distract attention from an advancing force.
The soldiers provided cover fire during the evacuation.
Cover for someone
To assume someone's responsibilities in their absence.
Can you cover for me while I'm out sick?
Cover letter
A letter sent with, and explaining the contents of, another document or a parcel of goods.
She sent her resume with a detailed cover letter.
Cover-up
An attempt to conceal a mistake or crime.
The scandal was a major cover-up by the corporation.
Cover version
A new performance or recording of a previously recorded song.
Her cover version of the song surpassed the original in popularity.
Cover one's bases
To ensure all possibilities are considered; similar to covering all bases.
We need to cover our bases in the strategy meeting.
Break cover
To emerge from a place of hiding or obscurity.
The animal broke cover when it sensed danger had passed.
Cover the waterfront
To deal with or include a wide range of subjects or areas.
The new curriculum covers the waterfront of modern art history.
Cover Example Sentences
The insurance doesn't cover damages caused by floods.
The journalist was excited to cover the Olympic Games.
The secret agent used a false identity to cover his tracks.
The roof covers the building, providing shelter from the rain.
The singer's cover of the classic song became an instant hit.
The blanket is too small to cover the entire bed.
The documentary covers the environmental issues facing the world.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called cover?
It's called cover because it denotes placing something over or upon for protection, concealment, or decoration.
How many syllables are in cover?
There are two syllables in "cover."
How is cover used in a sentence?
Cover is used to describe putting something over another thing, e.g., Please cover the food to keep it fresh.
What is the verb form of cover?
The verb form is "cover," as in "to cover something."
What is the first form of cover?
The first form is "cover," used as the base form of the verb.
What is a stressed syllable in cover?
The first syllable "cov" is the stressed syllable in "cover."
What is another term for cover?
Another term for cover could be "conceal" or "protect."
What is the singular form of cover?
The singular form is "cover."
What is the pronunciation of cover?
Cover is pronounced as /ˈkʌvər/.
What part of speech is cover?
"Cover" can be a verb, noun, or adjective depending on its use in a sentence.
How do we divide cover into syllables?
Cover is divided into syllables as "cov-er."
What is the second form of cover?
The second form is "covered," which is the simple past tense.
What is the root word of cover?
The root of "cover" comes from the Old French "covrir," meaning to protect or conceal.
Is cover a negative or positive word?
Cover can be neutral; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is cover a collective noun?
No, "cover" is not typically used as a collective noun.
What is the third form of cover?
The third form is also "covered," used as the past participle.
What is the opposite of cover?
The opposite of cover could be "uncover" or "expose."
Is cover an adverb?
No, "cover" is not an adverb.
Is cover a vowel or consonant?
The word "cover" starts with a consonant sound.
Which determiner is used with cover?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "this" can be used with "cover."
Which vowel is used before cover?
Typically, "a" is used before "cover," as in "a cover."
Is the word cover a Gerund?
When used in a phrase like "covering the table," "covering" acts as a gerund.
Is the word “cover” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Cover" can be a direct object, e.g., "I need a cover for my phone."
Is cover an abstract noun?
No, "cover" is not typically considered an abstract noun.
Is cover a countable noun?
Yes, "cover" is a countable noun (e.g., one cover, two covers).
Is the word cover imperative?
"Cover" can be used in the imperative mood, as in giving a command, e.g., "Cover the pot."
Which conjunction is used with cover?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can connect "cover" in a sentence, e.g., "Cover and protect."
What is the plural form of cover?
The plural form is "covers."
Is cover a noun or adjective?
Cover can be a noun and also a verb but not typically an adjective.
Is the cover term a metaphor?
The term "cover" can be used metaphorically to describe concealing or protecting something.
Which preposition is used with cover?
Prepositions like "with," "by," or "over" can be used with "cover."
Which article is used with cover?
Both "the" and "a" can be used with "cover," depending on the context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
