Cover v. t. (past & past part. covered; pres. part. covering) 1.To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.
2.To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak. "And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne." "All that beauty than doth cover thee."
3.To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory. "The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland."
4.To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods. "A cloud covered the mount." "In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame."
5.To brood or sit on; to incubate. "While the hen is covering her eggs, the male... diverts her with his songs."
6.To overwhelm; to spread over. "The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen."
7.To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. "His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round."
8.To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. "Blessed is he whose is covered."
9.To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
10.To put the usual covering or headdress on. "Cover thy head...; nay, prithee, be covered."
11.To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; said of the male.
To cover ground or To cover distance, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour.
To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself.
Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches.
To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.
Synonyms: To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.
Cover n. 1.Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
2.Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak. "Under cover of the night." "A handsome cover for imperfections."
3.Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover. "Being compelled to lodge in the field... whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire."
4.(Hunting) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
5.That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above.
6.(Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.
7.A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.
To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; said of game.
Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; said of a written message. "Letters... dispatched under cover to her ladyship."
...
