cover
KUH-vuh
Cover (verb) means to place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it. Example: “Please cover the pan with a lid while the rice cooks.”
verb
1
To place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it.
"Please cover the pan with a lid while the rice cooks."
"She covered the leftovers with plastic wrap."
"Clouds covered the sky before the storm hit."
2
To deal with, include, or report on a topic or event.
"Our next chapter covers how rivers shape the land around them."
"The lecture covers the basics of economics."
"The news channel covered the election results live."
3
To be enough money to pay for something.
"Her savings should cover the cost of the repairs."
"This budget should cover our travel expenses."
"Does your insurance cover water damage?"
noun
1
The front or back of a book, magazine, or similar publication.
"The cover of the old paperback was torn and faded."
"I judged the book by its cover and bought it straight away."
"Her photo made the cover of the magazine."
2
A new recording or performance of a song originally released by another artist.
"Her slow acoustic cover of that pop hit went viral online."
"The choir recorded a cover of the song for their charity album."
"The band played a cover of a classic rock song at the wedding."
How to use cover
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo put something over or protect something, to deal with a topic, to be enough money for something, or (as a noun) the outer face of a book or a re-recorded version of a song.
Common pairings
cover charge
cover story
cover version
cover the cost
take cover
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Word forms
- Plural
- covers
- Third person singular
- covers
- Past tense
- covered
- Archaic forms
- coverest, coveredst, covereth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ the pan with a lid while the rice cooks.
Etymology
From Old French covrir, from Late Latin coperire, ultimately from Latin cooperiō ("to cover completely") — built from co- (intensive prefix) plus operiō ("to close, cover").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for cover
See all rhymes for cover →Frequently asked questions
What does “cover” mean?
The word “cover” means to place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it. In plain terms, to put something over or protect something, to deal with a topic, to be enough money for something, or (as a noun) the outer face of a book or a re-recorded version of a song.
How do you pronounce “cover”?
“Cover” is pronounced KUH-vuh (/ˈkʌvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cover” in a sentence?
Here is “cover” used in a sentence: “She covered the leftovers with plastic wrap.”
What part of speech is “cover”?
Depending on how it is used, “cover” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “cover” come from?
The word “cover” comes from Late Latin. From Old French covrir, from Late Latin coperire, ultimately from Latin cooperiō ("to cover completely") — built from co- (intensive prefix) plus operiō ("to close, cover").
Is “cover” a common word?
“Cover” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cover” have?
“Cover” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it.
What is the difference between cover and hide?
To cover something is to place a layer over it, which may protect, shield, or conceal it. To hide is specifically to keep something out of sight. You can cover a table with a cloth purely for protection, but you hide something only when concealment is the actual goal.
What are common ways to use cover as a verb?
You can cover something to protect it, such as covering furniture with sheets; to conceal it, like covering a stain; or to shield it, as when you cover your face from the sun. The core idea is always placing one thing over another for a purpose.
What is an example of cover used in a sentence?
You might say, "Please cover the leftovers before putting them in the fridge," or "She covered the sleeping child with a blanket." In both cases something is placed over another thing to protect, shield, or conceal it, which is the essence of the verb.
What is the opposite of cover?
The most natural opposites are uncover, expose, and reveal. Where cover places a layer over something to protect or conceal it, these words remove that layer and bring the thing into view. "Uncover" is the direct reversal, while "expose" and "reveal" stress the resulting visibility.
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