Collins English-English Dictionary

cover ['k^və]

1. 1. vb [mainly tr] to place or spread something over so as to protect or conceal

2. 2. n cover version a version by a different artist of a previously recorded musical item

3. 3. vb to provide with a covering; clothe

4. 4. vb to put a garment, esp a hat, on (the body or head)

5. 5. vb to extend over or lie thickly on the surface of; spread

   snow covered the fields

6. 6. vb to bring upon (oneself); invest (oneself) as if with a covering

   covered with shame

7. 7. n cover point a fielder in such a position

8. 8. vb [sometimes foll by up] to act as a screen or concealment for; hide from view

9. 9. vb [military] to protect (an individual, formation, or place) by taking up a position from which fire may be returned if those being protected are fired upon

10. 10. vb [also intr, often foll by for] to assume responsibility for (a person or thing)

    to cover for a colleague in his absence

11. 11. vi. [intr; foll by for or up for] to provide an alibi (for)

12. 12. vi. to have as one's territory

    this salesman covers your area

13. 13. vi. to travel over

    to cover three miles a day

14. 14. vt. [tr] to have or place in the aim and within the range of (a firearm)

15. 15. vt. to include or deal with

    his talk covered all aspects of the subject

16. 16. vt. (of an asset or income) to be sufficient to meet (a liability or expense)

17. 17. vt. to insure against loss, risk, etc

18. 18. vt. to provide for (loss, risk, etc) by insurance

19. 19. vt. [also intr] [finance] to purchase (securities, etc) in order to meet contracts, esp short sales

20. 20. vt. to deposit (an equivalent stake) in a bet or wager

21. 21. vt. [also intr] to play a card higher in rank than (one played beforehand by another player)

22. 22. vt. to act as reporter or photographer on (a news event, etc) for a newspaper or magazine

    to cover sports events

23. 23. vt. [sport] to guard or protect (an opponent, team-mate, or area)

24. 24. vt. [music] to record a cover version of

25. 25. vt. (of a male animal, esp a horse) to copulate with (a female animal)

26. 26. vt. (of a bird) to brood (eggs)

27. 27. n anything that covers, spreads over, protects, or conceals

28. 28. n woods or bushes providing shelter or a habitat for wild creatures

29. 29. n a blanket used on a bed for warmth

30. 30. n another word for bedspread

31. 31. n [finance] liquid assets, reserves, or guaranteed income sufficient to discharge a liability, meet an expenditure, etc

32. 32. n a pretext, disguise, or false identity

    the thief sold brushes as a cover

33. 33. n another word for coverage

34. 34. n [insurance] an envelope or package for sending through the post

    under plain cover

35. 35. n [philately] an entire envelope that has been postmarked

36. 36. n an individual table setting, esp in a restaurant

37. 37. n [sport] the guarding or protection of an opponent, team-mate, or area

38. 38. n [cricket] [often plural] the area more or less at right angles to the pitch on the off side and usually about halfway to the boundary

    to field in the covers

39. 39. n (as modifier)

    a cover drive by a batsman

40. 40. n [ecology] the percentage of the ground surface covered by a given species of plant

41. 41. n See also cover-up

42. 42. n [Etymology] C13: from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire to cover completely, from operire to cover over