transitive verb
- to place something on, over, or in front of, so as to conceal, protect, or close
- to extend over; overlay; blanket: snow covered the highway
- to copulate with (the female): said chiefly of a stallion
- to clothe
- to coat, sprinkle, etc. thickly: covered with mud
- to sit on (eggs); brood; incubate
- to conceal by hiding or screening
- to keep from harm or injury by shielding; protect by screening
- to include and provide for; take into account: the law covers such cases
- to protect against financial loss or liability, as by insurance or reserve funds
- to make up for (a loss, injury, etc.) by insurance, reserve funds, etc.
- to be sufficient for payment of (expenses, a debt, etc.)
- to accept (a bet); stake the equivalent of (an opponent's stake) in a wager
- to travel over; go the length of: to cover a distance
- to work in or be responsible for (a particular area or range of activity): to cover a territory as a salesman
- to deal with; treat of: to cover a subject
- to bring upon (oneself) by one's actions: to cover oneself with glory
- to point a firearm or similar weapon at; put or keep within the range and in the aim of a gun or the like
- ☆ Slang to record or perform a cover () of
- Card Games to put a higher card on (a previously played card)
- ☆ Finance to buy stock to replace (shares borrowed from a broker to effect a short sale)
- ☆ Journalism to have the assignment of gathering and reporting the details of (a news story)
- Mil. to keep (a person or group) within sight or contact so as to protect from enemy action
- Sports
- to watch, guard, defend, or defend against
- Baseball to be ready to receive a throw to (a particular base)
- Football to attempt to prevent (a pass receiver) from catching the ball or prevent (a punted ball) from being returned
Origin:
ME coveren < OFr covrir < L cooperire < co-, intens. + operire, to hide < IE *op-wer-, to cover < *op(i)-, back, against + *wer, to cover, protect > warn