cover
Other forms: covered; covering; covers
To cover something is to conceal it by putting something on top of it. In many religions, it's important for people to cover their heads in various instances.
You might cover your picnic table with a bright tablecloth for a party, or cover the mirrors in your house when you're mourning a family member. Gardeners cover their beds with mulch or compost, scattering a layer on top, and painters cover dingy old paint with a fresh new coat. If a politician covers something up, he attempts to hide some mistake or wrongdoing. When cover is a noun, it can mean "a lid" or "a secret identity."
Definitions of cover
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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”antonyms:uncoverremove all or part of one's clothes to show one's bodytypes:frostcover with frostfrostprovide with a rough or speckled surface or appearanceroofprovide a building with a roof; cover a building with a roofmulchcover with mulchturfcover (the ground) with a surface layer of grass or grass rootsbankcover with ashes so to control the rate of burningcarpetcover with a carpetcarpetcover completely, as if with a carpetboard upcover with wooden boardsbarkcover with barkbutterspread butter oncanvascover with canvaspapercover with paperoilcover with oil, as if by rubbingwaxcover with waxveneercover with veneergreaselubricate with greasewashapply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc., tolinecover the interior offacecover the front or surface offeathercover or fit with feathersspritzcover (a location) wholly or partially by squirting a liquid onto itfeltcover with feltpastecover the surface ofcloakcover with or as if with a cloakcoifcover with a coifholdcover as for protection against noise or smelljacketprovide with a thermally non-conducting coverfoilcover or back with foilflashprotect by covering with a thin sheet of metalpallcover with a pallsodcover with sodbindprovide with a bindingparcelcover with strips of canvasflakecover with flakes or as if with flakesrecovercover anewhoodcover with a hoodcowlcover with or as with a cowlclapboardcover with clapboardscanopycover with a roof to shelter an area from the weatherbreadcover with bread crumbsblinkerput blinders on (a horse)blindfoldcover the eyes of (someone) to prevent him or her from seeingcrownput an enamel cover onsheetcover with a sheet, as if by wrappingtilecover with tileslagcover with lagging to prevent heat lossmaskput a mask on or cover with a maskmaskcover with a sauceblanketcover as if with a blanketplasterapply a plaster cast topaintapply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oillaminatecover with a thin sheet of non-fabric materialspraycover by spraying with a liquidbrushcover by brushingsheathecover with a protective sheathingconcretecover with cementblackleadcover with graphitegrasscover with grassgravelcover with gravellimecover with lime so as to induce growthmound overform mounds overstrawcover or provide with or as if with strawspreadcover by spreading something overdrapecover or dress loosely with clothdustcover with a light dusting of a substancesteelcover, plate, or edge with steelgelatinizecoat with gelatinbloodsmear with blood, as in a hunting initiation rite, where the face of a person is smeared with the blood of the killthatchcover with thatchshinglecover with shinglesskimcoat (a liquid) with a layerstuccocoat with stuccoeggcoat with beaten eggdredgecover before cookingsootcoat with sootrefinishgive a new surfacebrush onapply with a brushresurfacecover with a new surfacecrumbcoat with bread crumbscoppercoat with a layer of copperfinishprovide with a finishblacktopcoat with blacktopfoliatecoat or back with metal foilpavecover with a material such as stone or concrete to make suitable for vehicle trafficbeeswaxcover with beeswaxglazecoat with a glazewhitewashcover with whitewashrelineprovide with a new liningrevetface with a layer of stone or concrete or other supporting material so as to retainrefaceprovide with a new facingfaceline the edge (of a garment) with a different materialcribline with beams or planksbabbittline with a Babbitt metaltarcoat with tardo upwrap for decorative purposesparcelmake into a wrapped containercerewrap up in a cereclothshrinkwrapwrap something tightly with heated plastic that shrinks upon coolinggift-wrapwrap (a gift) attractivelyshroudwrap in a shrouddaubapply to a surfaceenrobeprovide with a coatingrebindprovide with a new bindingslatecover with slatetessellatetile with tesseraerendercoat with plastic or cementskimcoatcoat with a mixture of gypsum and spacklepaintapply paint to; coat with paintgumcover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gumdressput a dressing oncreamput on cream, as on one's face or bodycold-creamput cold cream on one's faceputtyapply putty in order to fix or fillsponge onapply with a spongecementcover or coat with cementslatherspread thicklybenightenvelop with social, intellectual, or moral darknessgritcover with a gritplatecoat with a layer of metaltubeplace or enclose in a tubeengulfflow over or cover completelysheatheenclose with a sheathinvaginatesheathecocoonwrap in or as if in a cocoon, as for protectionbathesuffuse with or as if with lightmetalcover with metalsizecover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance)platinizecoat with metallic platinumporcelainizecoat with porcelain or a porcelain-like surfacezinccoat or cover with zinc
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form a cover over“The grass covered the grave”synonyms: spread overtypes:floodcover with liquid, usually waterbloodycover with bloodglaciatecover with ice or snow or a glacierstrewcover; be dispersed overmantlecover like a mantleblanketform a blanket-like cover (over)carpetform a carpet-like cover (over)smotherform an impenetrable cover overshroudform a cover like a shroudflowcover or swamp with water
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cover as if with a shroud
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put something on top of something else
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sit on (eggs)
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spread over a surface to conceal or protect
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clothe, as if for protection from the elements
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invest with a large or excessive amount of something
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hide from view or knowledge
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make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
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play a higher card than the one previously played“Smith covered again”type of:playput (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
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a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something“under cover of darkness”synonyms: concealment, covert, screentypes:blinda hiding place sometimes used by hunters (especially duck hunters)camouflagedevice or stratagem for concealment or deceitshojia translucent screen made of a wooden frame covered with rice paperstalking-horsescreen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking gametype of:coveringan artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
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a natural object that covers or envelops“the fox was flushed from its cover”synonyms: covering, natural coveringtypes:scalea flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animalsshellthe hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusk or a brachiopodtesta hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchinsbody coveringany covering for the body or a body partintegumentan outer protective covering such as the skin of an animal or a cuticle or seed coat or rind or shellenvelopea natural covering (as by a fluid)roofthe inner top surface of a covered area or hollow spaceshella rigid covering that envelops an objectskima thin layer covering the surface of a liquidsloughany outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake)snowcapa covering of snow (as on a mountain peak)vesturesomething that covers or cloaks like a garmentperidiumouter layer of the spore-bearing organ in many fungichlamys, floral envelope, perianth, perigone, perigoniumcollective term for the outer parts of a flower consisting of the calyx and corolla and enclosing the stamens and pistilsindusiuma membrane enclosing and protecting the developing spores especially that covering the sori of a fernbarktough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plantscanopythe uppermost layer of branches and foliage in a forestprotective coveringthe tough natural covering of some organismsfish scalescale of the kind that covers the bodies of fishsquamaa protective structure resembling a scalevalveone of the paired hinged shells of certain molluscs and of brachiopodsvalvethe entire one-piece shell of a snail and certain other molluscsscallop shella shell of a scallopoyster shella shell of an oysterphragmacone, phragmoconethe thin conical chambered internal shell (either straight or curved) of a belemnitethecaouter sheath of the pupa of certain insectsloricaa hard protective sheath (as secreted by certain protoctists, for example)seashellthe shell of a marine organismclamshellthe shell of a clamexuviaecast-off skins or coverings of various organisms during ecdysishaira covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat lossheadfula covering over the surface of your headmedullary sheath, myelin sheatha layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibersepicraniumthe muscle and aponeurosis and skin covering the craniumexoskeletonthe exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofsmesocarpthe middle layer of a pericarpendocarp, pit, stonethe hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some fruits (as peaches or plums or cherries or olives) that contains the seedcapsulea dry dehiscent seed vessel or the spore-containing structure of e.g. mossesChinese cinnamon, cassia barkaromatic bark of the cassia-bark tree; less desirable as a spice than Ceylon cinnamon barkcinnamon barkaromatic bark of Saigon cinnamon used medicinally as a carminativemagnoliadried bark of various magnolias; used in folk medicinetanbarkbark rich in tannin; bruised and cut in pieces to use for tanning; spent tanbark used as a ground coveringmezereumthe dried bark of the shrub mezereoncanella, canella bark, white cinnamonhighly aromatic inner bark of the Canella winterana used as a condiment and a tonicfallsthe petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)Jesuit's bark, Peruvian bark, cinchona, cinchona barkmedicinal bark of cinchona trees; source of quinine and quinidinecascarilla bark, eleuthera bark, sweetwood barkaromatic bark of cascarilla; used as a tonic and for making incensehuskouter membranous covering of some fruits or seedscascara, cascara sagrada, chittam bark, chittem barkdried bark of the cascara buckthorn used as a laxativewinter's barkaromatic bark having tonic and stimulant propertiesangostura, angostura barkthe bitter bark of a South American tree; used in medicines and liqueurs and bitterscorkouter bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.type of:natural objectan object occurring naturally; not made by man
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the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it
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covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)“put the cover back on the kettle”synonyms: toptypes:capa top (as for a bottle)lida movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.manhole covera flush iron cover for a manhole (as in a street)screwtopthe top of a container that must be screwed off and onbottlecapa cap that seals a bottlenipplea flexible cap on a baby's feeding bottle or pacifierradiator capcap on the opening in the top of a radiator through which a coolant liquid can be addedtrunk lidhinged lid for a trunktype of:coveringan artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
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the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a booksynonyms: back, binding, book bindingtypes:half bindingbook binding in which the spine and part of the sides are bound in one material and the rest in anotherthree-quarter bindingthe spine and much of the sides are a different material from the rest of the covertype of:protection, protective cover, protective coveringa covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury
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bedding that keeps a person warm in bed“he pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep”synonyms: blankettypes:afghana blanket knitted or crocheted in strips or squares; sometimes used as a shawlelectric blanketa blanket containing and electric heating element that can be controlled to the desired temperature by a rheostatmantaa blanket that is used as a cloak or shawlsecurity blanketa blanket (or toy) that a child carries around in order to reduce anxietytype of:
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a false identity and background (especially one created for an undercover agent)
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include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
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span an interval of distance, space or time“The period covered the turn of the century”“This farm covers some 200 acres”
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be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism
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act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression“The course covered all of Western Civilization”comprehend, embrace, encompassinclude in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
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travel across or pass over“The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day”synonyms: cross, cut across, cut through, get across, get over, pass over, track, traversetypes:trampcross on footstridecover or traverse by taking long stepswalktraverse or cover by walkingcrisscrosscross in a pattern, often randomfordcross a river where it's shallowbridgecross over on a bridgejaywalkcross the road at a place not meant for pedestrianscoursemove swiftly through or overhoptraverse as if by a short airplane triptype of:
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copulate with a female, used especially of horses
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a recording of a song that was first recorded or made popular by somebody else“they made a cover of a Beatles' song”synonyms: cover song, cover versiontype of:recordinga storage device on which information (sounds or images) have been recorded
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provide for
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be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of“Is this enough to cover the check?”type of:behave the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
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help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities
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maintain a check on; especially by patrolling
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be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
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protect or defend (a position in a game)“he covered left field”types:double-teamcover with two defensive players
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hold within range of an aimed firearm
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to take an action to protect against future problems“Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself”synonyms:
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protect by insurance“The insurance won't cover this”synonyms: insure, underwritecompensate, overcompensatemake up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
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fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations“artillery provided covering fire for the withdrawal”synonyms: covering fire
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a fixed charge by a restaurant or nightclub over and above the charge for food and drinksynonyms: cover chargetype of:fixed charge, fixed cost, fixed costsa periodic charge that does not vary with business volume (as insurance or rent or mortgage payments etc.)
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The Vocabulary of Soviet-Era Nostalgia & Cold War Spy Words
Putin invades Crimea. Kermit the Frog goes to Siberia (where Tina Fey is prison warden). Journalists tweet pics of brown water flowing from faucets in Soviet-reminiscent Sochi hotel rooms. Wes Anderson enshrines that concept via "The Grand Budapest Hotel." Meanwhile Cold War history series "The Americans" is signed to a third season on FX. Call it War on Terror fatigue, ascribe it to fashion's habit of looking back, just don't try to deny it. The Cold War is hot right now, and so are the words in this list. (For words on this list originating from Russian, we reference Wikipedia's entry for List of English words of Russian origin.)
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