1. [n]  fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations; "artillery provided covering fire for the withdrawal"
2. [n]  the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it; "the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft"
3. [n]  the front and back covering of a book; "the book had a leather binding"
4. [n]  bedding that keeps a person warm in bed; "he pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep"
5. [n]  a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something; "they crouched behind the screen"; "under cover of darkness"
6. [n]  covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container); "he removed the top of the carton"; "he couldn't get the top off of the bottle"; "put the cover back on the kettle"
7. [n]  a natural object that covers or envelops; "under a covering of dust"; "the fox was flushed from its cover"
8. [n]  a fixed charge by a restaurant or night club over and above the charge for food and drink
9. [v]  clothe, as if for protection from the elements; "cover your head!"
10. [v]  sit on (eggs); "Birds brood"; "The female covers the eggs"
11. [v]  protect or defend a position in a game; "he covered left field"
12. [v]  be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
13. [v]  play a higher card than the one previously played; "Smith covered again"
14. [v]  protect by insurance; "The insurance won't cover this"
15. [v]  be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism; "Snow reported on China in the 1950's"; "The cub reporter covered New York City"
16. [v]  maintain a check on; esp. by patrolling; "The second officer covered the top floor"
17. [v]  deal with verbally or in some form of artistic expression; "This book deals with incest"; "The course covered all of Western Civilization"; "The new book treats the history of China"
18. [v]  hold within range of an aimed firearm
19. [v]  form a cover over; "The grass covered the grave"
20. [v]  provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers"
21. [v]  put something on top of something else; "cover the meat with a lot of gravy"
22. [v]  copulate with a female, used esp. of horses; "The horse covers the mare"
23. [v]  cover as if with a shroud; "The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery"
24. [v]  travel across or pass over; "The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day"
25. [v]  spread over a surface to conceal or protect; "This paint covers well"
26. [v]  hide from view or knowledge; "The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White House"
27. [v]  be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of; "Is this enough to cover the check?"
28. [v]  to take an action to protect against future problems; "Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself."
29. [v]  help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities; "She is covering for our secretary who is ill this week"
30. [v]  invest with a large or excessive amount of something; "She covered herself with glory"
31. [v]  include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory; "This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds"; "this should cover everyone in the group"
32. [v]  make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities; "he is compensating for being a bad father"
33. [v]  provide for; "The grant doesn't cover my salary"
34. [v]  span an interval of distance, space or time; "The war extended over five years"; "The period covered the turn of the century"; "My land extends over the hills on the horizon"; "This farm covers some 200 acres"

Cover
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1. \Cov"er\ (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Covered} (-?rd);
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Covering}.] [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L.
   cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards,
   over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. {Aperient},
   {Overt}, {Curfew}.]
   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.                               --Milton.
            All that beauty than doth cover thee. --Shak.
   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.    --Brougham.
   4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were
      covered from our sight by the woods.
            A cloud covered the mount.            --Exod. xxiv.
                                                  15.
            In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
                                                  --Milton.
   5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
            While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . .
            diverts her with his songs.           --Addison.
   6. To overwhelm; to spread over.
            The waters returned and covered the chariots and the
            horsemen.                             --Ex. xiv. 28.
   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.                      --Cowley.
   8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
      ``Blessed is he whose is covered.'' --Ps. xxxii. 1.
   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.
                                                  --Shak.
   11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers
       a mare; -- said of the male.
   {To cover}
   {ground or 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.
   Syn: To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.
   

2. \Cov"er\ (k?v"?r), 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.'' -- Macaulay.
            A handsome cover for imperfections.   --Collier.
   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.                               --Clarendon.
   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. --Knight.
   6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.
   7. [Cf. F. couvert.] 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.                             --Thackeray.
   

3. \Cov"er\, v. i.
   To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]
   --Shak.