English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition cover in British English

cover verb

[transitive] verb
/ˈkʌvə(r)/
1

to put one thing over another, in order to protect or hide it

Example

Cover the food until you are ready to eat it.

Example

They covered her with a blanket.

Example

The floor was covered with plastic sheeting.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to be on top of something

Example

A rug covered the hole in the carpet.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

to put your hands over your eyes, ears, or mouth

Example

Bob covered his eyes, unable to look at the body.

Synonyms and related words
2

to be all over a surface or object

Example

Bruises covered his entire body.

Example

His clothes were covered in mud.

Example

All the furniture was covered with dust.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

to spread something all over a surface or object

Example

They covered the path with rose petals.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

to spread or lie all over an area of land

Example

Dense forest covers the lower slopes of the mountain.

Synonyms and related words
Example

Her new book covers the period from 1870 to 1918.

Example

The programme covers all aspects of health and safety at work.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

if a law, rule, or contract covers a particular situation, type of person etc, it includes or deals with that situation or person

Example

The rights of unmarried fathers are not covered by this legislation.

Synonyms and related words
4

to give a report or description of an event on television or radio, or in a newspaper

Example

We will be covering the game live on Saturday afternoon.

Example

Clare Gray covered the Paris fashion shows for The Times.

Synonyms and related words
5

to have enough money to pay for something

Example

We need £1,000 a month to cover the rent.

Synonyms and related words
Example

The warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse of the product.

Example

His car insurance covers him for business use.

Example

Are you covered to drive a truck?

Example

You need to be covered against fire.

Synonyms and related words
Example

We had to cover the last three miles on foot.

Synonyms and related words
8

to perform or record a song that was first performed by someone else

Example

Her new album covers some old Beatles classics.

Synonyms and related words
9

to protect someone from attack by pointing a gun at someone who might shoot them

Example

His partner covered him while he ran across the prison yard.

Synonyms and related words
9.1

to prevent someone from moving or escaping by pointing a gun towards them

Example

You go first while we cover the back door.

Synonyms and related words
10

in some sports, to stay very close to an opposing player in order to prevent them from scoring a goal or getting a point

Synonyms and related words
Definition cover in British English