cover

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. 10) protect (an exposed person) by shooting at the enemy. 11) (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opponent). 12) record or perform a cover version of (a song). 13) (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.

● break cover — Cf. ↑break cover

● cover one's back — Cf. ↑cover one's back

● under cover of — Cf. ↑under cover of

● under separate cover — Cf. ↑under separate cover

DERIVATIVES covering noun.

ORIGIN Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from operire 'to cover' .