See Also: Cover(medicine)
Cover(finance)
Cover(money)
cover(1)(dictionary)
cover(2)(dictionary)
cover(3)(dictionary)
cover(4)(dictionary)
re-cover(dictionary)
cover-up(dictionary)
cover charge(dictionary)

cover(4) (iou)



cover verb2. ME.
[Old French cuvrir, covrir (mod. couvrir) from Latin cooperire, formed as CO- + operire to cover.]
I.
verb trans. Put or lay something over or in front of (an object) so as to conceal, protect, or enclose it; put a covering or cover on (spec. a book). (Foll. by with.) ME.
cover one's feet (in biblical translations) urinate; defecate.
A. B. Soyer Cover the saucepan for an instant. R. C. Hutchinson The winter sun had..been covered by fresh clouds. J. Thurber He wore a cap to cover his baldness. P. Mortimer I covered my face with my hands.
b. Put a roof on or over. LME-M18.
c. Put a cloth on (a table). M16.
verb trans. Clothe (a body); wrap or enclose (a limb etc.); enclose (a chair etc.) in fabric. ME.
cover oneself with glory be remarkably successful.
V. Woolf Six yards of silk will cover one body. W. Plomer An Empire sofa..had been newly covered in striped lavender satin. fig.: Henry Fielding He stood..covered with confusion.
verb trans. & intrans. Put a hat etc. on (one's head); in pass., put on or wear a hat etc. ME.
Shakespeare As You Like It Good ev'n...Nay, prithee be cover'd. J. Heller Her head was covered in a knitted cap.
verb trans. Serve as a covering to; lie or be over (an object) so as to conceal, protect, or enclose it. ME.
J. Tyndall Pines..covered with the freshly-fallen snow. I. Murdoch A wet scarf covered her hair. G. Greene One wall was almost covered by a large roller map.
verb trans. Occur here and there over the whole surface of; cause the surface of (something) to be overlain or marked (foll. by with, in). ME.
W. Cowper Gardens, fields and plains Were cover'd with the pest. J. R. Green Art and literature covered England with great buildings and busy schools. R. Brooke The breeze moves in the trees..And covers you with white petals. Observer He..was covered in ink.
verb trans. Of a stallion, bull, etc.: copulate with. M16.
b. Of a bird: sit on (eggs). E17.
verb trans.
a. In wagering, match (a coin etc.) with another of equal value. E19.
b. Play a higher-ranking card on top of (a card already played). L19.
c. Make a cover version of (a song etc.). M20.
II.
verb trans. gen. Shield; protect; shelter; be a means of defence or protection for. ME.
H. Nelson She was an American Vessel, although covered by British Papers. J. Seacome Cannon..to cover the Ships in the Harbour. Granta We moved back slowly.., covering the battalion's retreat.
verb trans. gen. Hide or screen from view; conceal, prevent the perception or discovery of. ME.
cover a person's tracks: see TRACK noun.
Southey Thou shalt wish The earth might cover thee. D. Lodge He forced a laugh to cover his embarrassment.
verb trans. Aim a gun at; have within firing-range; command (territory etc.) from a superior position. L17.
b. In Tennis etc., have (an area) within the scope of one's play; in various team games, be responsible for defence in (an area). L19.
verb trans. Include within its application or scope; deal with, provide for. L18.
Burke Mr. Fox's general principle fully covered all this. K. Amis I cover the medieval angle for the History Department here.
b. Report on or photograph for the press; attend or investigate as a journalist. L19.
P. Lively The paper is sending her to cover a party conference.
verb trans.
a. Military. Stand directly behind or in line with. L18.
b. In Cricket, stand behind (another fielder) so as to be able to stop the balls he or she misses; in various team games, mark (an opponent). M19.
a. verb trans. Of a pickpocket's partner: screen the operations of (the pickpocket). E19.
b. verb trans. & intrans. Of a medical practitioner: act for or cooperate improperly with (an unqualified practitioner). L19.
c. verb trans. & intrans. with for. Stand in for (an absent colleague); take (a class) for an absent teacher. M20.
verb trans.
a. Pass over (ground); traverse (a given distance). E19.
J. Buchan The hill-top..from which the eye may cover half the southern midlands. K. M. E. Murray In three days they covered at least fifty miles.
b. Extend over, be co-extensive with; occupy (a period or area). M19.
cover much ground, cover the ground: see GROUND noun.
A. Carnegie During the period which these events cover I had made repeated journeys to Europe. D. Murphy Letters..covering more than twenty foolscap pages.
verb trans. Be sufficient to defray (expenses), pay (a dividend etc.), or meet (a liability); compensate for (a loss or risk); protect by insurance. E19.
Times With the dividend covered three times there is unlikely to be any danger to shareholders.
b. verb intrans. Insure oneself; provide cover. L19.
With adverbs in specialized senses: cover in complete the covering of (something) by adding the upper layer or part; provide with a roof. cover over cover the whole surface of; overlay; cover with something that overhangs. cover up (a) verb phr. trans. conceal under a cover; cover over; (b) verb phr. trans. & intrans. conceal (a misdeed), assist in a deception.
Comb.: covering letter, covering note: sent with an enclosure and indicating its contents; cover-point (a) Cricket (the position of) a fielder a little in front of the batsman on the off side, further from the pitch than point; (b) Lacrosse a player who is positioned just in front of point; cover-shame (a) something used to conceal shame; (b) the shrub savin (as an abortifacient); cover-slut an apron, a pinafore; cover-up (a) something designed to conceal a crime or restrict knowledge of misconduct; (b) a high-necked garment; a coverall.
coverable adjective able to be covered L20.
coverer noun a person who or thing which covers ME.