cover

1 of 2verb

/ˈkʌvər/

Forms:covers,covering,covered,covered

to put something over something else in a way that hides or protects it

A2transitive

She used a blanket to cover the delicate furniture during the move.
Please cover the cake with a cloth to keep it fresh until the party.
He decided to cover his plants with a tarp to protect them from the impending frost.
The bookshelf was used to cover the hole in the wall until repairs could be made.

Antonyms:

uncover

to envelop something in a layer of material

transitive

The landslide covered the road with a thick layer of mud, making it impassable for vehicles.
The heavy snowstorm covered the landscape with a blanket of snow, creating a serene winter scene.
She covered the floor of the greenhouse with a layer of gravel to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
The landscaper covered the garden beds with a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
The windstorm covered the cars parked outside with a layer of dust and debris.

Synonyms:

spread over

to provide a report on or talk about an event in a news piece or media

B1transitive

The journalist covered the presidential inauguration, providing live updates throughout the day.
The news channel covered the local election extensively, interviewing candidates and analyzing voter turnout.
The newspaper covered the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital, highlighting key speeches.
The reporter covered the charity gala, interviewing attendees and showcasing the evening's highlights.
The media outlet covered the protest rally, capturing the crowd's chants and speeches from various perspectives.

Synonyms:

report

(of a bird or animal) to settle on top of eggs to keep them warm and facilitate hatching

transitive

The mother hen covered her clutch of eggs with her feathers to keep them warm until they hatched.
The penguin covered its egg with its brood pouch, shielding it from the harsh Antarctic cold.
The duck covered her eggs with down feathers, providing insulation against temperature changes.
The turkey covered her eggs with her body, rotating them periodically to ensure even warmth distribution.
The goose covered her eggs with her warm body, patiently waiting for them to hatch into goslings.

Synonyms:

hatch incubate brood

(of an area) to extend over a specific distance

transitive

The grounds covered eight acres.
The forest covers several hectares of land, providing habitat for diverse wildlife.
The blanket of snow covered the entire neighborhood, creating a serene winter landscape.
The vineyard covers acres of rolling hills, producing some of the finest wines in the region.
The desert stretches for miles, covering vast expanses of arid terrain.

Synonyms:

extend continue

to encompass or include a range of topics, issues, or situations

transitive

The textbook covers various topics in biology, from cell structure to ecosystems.
The training program aims to cover key skills needed for the job.
The discussion will cover recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
The presentation will cover the history and cultural significance of the traditional dance.

Synonyms:

embrace comprehend encompass

to oversee, manage, or attend to a designated region or domain

transitive

As a police officer, it's my duty to cover this neighborhood and ensure its safety and security.
The delivery company covers a wide area, reaching remote locations to provide timely package deliveries.
Our healthcare center covers several villages in the region.
The fire department covers both urban and rural areas.
The landscaping company covers various suburbs, maintaining gardens and green spaces to enhance the aesthetics of the community.

to traverse or move over a certain distance, terrain, or area

transitive

Our flight will cover approximately 2,000 miles from New York to Los Angeles.
The marathon runners will cover 26.2 miles through the city streets.
The cyclist aims to cover 50 kilometers before sunset.
The car covered 300 miles on the highway without any issues.

Synonyms:

pass over track traverse come get over travel cut across pass get across cut through cross

to direct a firearm toward a target, typically a person

transitive

The police officers covered the suspect with their firearms as they approached cautiously.
During the standoff, the hostage-taker covered the hostages, ensuring they remained compliant.
The soldiers covered the enemy soldiers with their rifles.
The security guard covered the intruder with his gun, ordering him to remain still until backup arrived.
The vigilant citizen covered the robber with his pistol, deterring him from making any sudden moves.

to monitor or oversee a particular area or situation to ensure security or compliance

transitive

The security guards covered the perimeter of the building to prevent unauthorized access.
The police officers covered the streets during the festival to maintain public order.
The lifeguards covered the beach, keeping a watchful eye on swimmers to ensure their safety.
The border patrol agents covered the border, monitoring for any illegal crossings.
The park rangers covered the trails, ensuring visitors followed safety guidelines and respected the environment.

(of a fielder) to move into position to receive a throw aimed at a specific base

transitive

The shortstop covered second base to receive the throw from the outfield and tag out the advancing runner.
The first baseman covered the bag as the pitcher attempted to pick off the runner leading off first base.
The catcher covered home plate to catch the ball and tag out the baserunner attempting to score from third.
The pitcher covered first base on a ground ball hit to the right side of the infield.
The second baseman covered the base on a force play, awaiting the throw from the shortstop to complete the out.

to take precautionary measures to minimize or avoid negative consequences

transitive

The team leader implemented strict safety protocols to cover the company against any workplace accidents or injuries.
The contractor insisted on signing a detailed contract to cover herself against any disagreements with the client.
The journalist double-checked her sources to cover herself against accusations of spreading misinformation.
The doctor always obtained signed consent forms from patients to cover herself against malpractice lawsuits.

to clothe or provide a protective layer over something

transitive

The leaves covered the ground, creating a colorful carpet in the forest.
The jacket covered her shoulders, protecting her from the cold wind.
The tarp covered the pile of wood, shielding it from the rain.
The vines covered the fence, adding a touch of greenery to the backyard.
The curtain covered the window, blocking out the sunlight.

Synonyms:

wrap up

to take up a defensive position to guard against an opposing player's movements or potential attacks

transitive

The defender covered the opposing forward closely, preventing them from receiving the ball.
During a basketball game, the point guard covered the opposing team's top scorer.
In hockey, the defenseman covered the opposing team's winger, shadowing their movements.
In American football, the cornerback covered the wide receiver, staying close to them to prevent receptions and interceptions.

(of a male animal) to mate with a female animal for the purpose of reproduction

transitive

The farmer allowed the stallion to cover the mare in order to breed a new generation of strong and healthy foals.
The zookeepers carefully monitored the mating process as the male lion covered the lioness in the hopes of producing offspring.
The breeder observed closely as the prized stallion covered the selected mares.
The horse trainer facilitated the process as the stallion covered the receptive mare.
The rancher arranged for the stallion to cover several mares during the breeding season.

Synonyms:

breed

(of a material or substance) to extend or apply evenly across an area or object

This new paint covers well, hiding all the old stains and cracks on the wall.
The frosting covers smoothly over the cake, giving it a flawless finish.
The vines cover beautifully over the old stone wall, creating a lush green facade.

(of a sum of money) to be adequate to pay for a particular cost or expense

transitive

My savings should cover the cost of repairing the car's engine.
Will your scholarship cover all of your tuition fees for the upcoming semester?
The insurance policy should cover the medical expenses resulting from the accident.
We need to ensure that the budget will cover the expenses for the entire project.
Her salary barely covers the rent for her apartment.

to fill the position or substitute for another person

transitive

When my coworker fell ill, I covered for him by handling his clients and completing his tasks.
During the meeting, Sarah covered for her colleague by presenting the project updates in his absence.
I had to cover for my teammate during the soccer game when he got injured.
The substitute teacher covered for the regular teacher who was attending a training seminar.
As the assistant manager, I often have to cover for the store manager when she is away on business trips.