- 1 [countable] a thing that is put over or on another thing, usually to protect it or to decorate it a cushion cover a plastic waterproof cover for the stroller see also dust cover, loose cover Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveprotective, removable, reversible, … verb + coverput on, replace, lift, … prepositioncover for See full entry
- 2[uncountable] a place that provides shelter from bad weather or protection from an attack Everyone ran for cover when it started to rain. The climbers took cover from the storm in a cave. After the explosion the street was full of people running for cover. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveair verb + coverdive for, run for, take, … prepositionunder cover, under cover of, cover from, … See full entry of book
- 3 [countable] the outside of a book or a magazine the front/back cover Her face was on the cover (= the front cover) of every magazine. He always reads the paper from cover to cover (= everything in it). Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveback, front, hard, … verb + coveradorn, grace, design, … cover + nounillustration, image, photo, … prepositionon a/the cover See full entry See related entries: The press, Parts of a book insurance
- 4(British English) (North American English coverage) [uncountable] cover (against something) protection that an insurance company provides by promising to pay you money if a particular event happens accident cover cover against accidental damage private health cover costs There is no cover provided by the policy for theft of property from cars or garages. Wordfinderinsuranceactuary, annuity, cover, excess, insurance, no-claims bonus, policy, premium, risk, underwrite Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecomprehensive, full, wide, … verb + coverhave, give somebody, provide (somebody with), … prepositioncover against, cover for See full entry with weapons
- 5[uncountable] support and protection that is provided when somebody is attacking or in danger of being attacked The ships needed air cover (= protection by military planes) once they reached enemy waters. trees/plants
- 6[uncountable] trees and plants that grow on an area of land The total forest cover of the earth is decreasing. Zebras and other animals were standing very still in broken cover. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedense, thick, cloud, … See full entry cloud/snow
- 7[uncountable] the fact of the sky being covered with cloud or the ground with snow Fog and low cloud cover are expected this afternoon. In this area there is snow cover for six months of the year. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedense, thick, cloud, … See full entry See related entries: Sky on bed
- 8the covers [plural] the sheets, blankets, etc. on a bed She threw back the covers and leapt out of bed. He climbed into the cold bed and snuggled beneath the covers. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebed, thick, warm, … verb + the coversget under, pull up, fling off, … prepositionunder the cover phrasespull the covers over your head See full entry song
- 9[countable] = cover version hiding something
- 10[countable, usually singular] cover (for something) activities or behaviour that seem honest or true but that hide somebody’s real identity or feelings, or that hide something illegal His work as a civil servant was a cover for his activities as a spy. Her over-confident attitude was a cover for her nervousness. It would only take one phone call to blow their cover (= make known their true identities and what they were really doing). Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveperfect, diplomatic, official, … verb + coverblow cover + nounstory prepositioncover for See full entry for somebody’s work
- 11[uncountable] the fact of somebody doing another person’s job when they are away or when there are not enough staff It's the manager's job to organize cover for staff who are absent. Ambulance drivers provided only emergency cover during the dispute. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from co- (expressing intensive force) + operire ‘to cover’. The noun is partly a variant of covert.Extra examples All the seats are under cover. He held his nose as he lifted the cover of the bin. He pulled the covers over his head and tried to get back to sleep. He realized his cover had been blown Her image has graced the covers of many glossy magazines. She threw back the covers and got out of bed. The RAF provided air cover for the attack. The author only gets 1% of the cover price. The club is a cover for various criminal activities. The deer broke cover as the hunters approached. The guard believed her cover story. There’s a picture of the author on the back cover. They sought cover from the wind. This company provides wider cover. We attacked at night, under cover of darkness. We descended into Heathrow through thick cloud cover. We ran for cover as it started to rain. We spread dust covers over the furniture while the builders were in. a cover for the swimming pool a sofa with a loose cover a thick cover of snow cover for contents plants that provide good ground cover spies operating under diplomatic cover After the explosion the street was full of people running for cover. Brighten up your room with some colourful cushion covers. He lifted the manhole cover. His work as a banker was a cover for his activities as a spy. It would only take one phone call to blow their cover. It’s a good idea to put a dust cover over your computer at night. It’s the manager’s job to organize cover for employees who are absent. She put on a clean duvet cover. The buggy had a plastic waterproof cover. The plants provide a protective cover for the soil. The ships needed air cover once they reached enemy waters.Idioms
- 1pretending to be somebody else in order to do something secretly a police officer working under cover
- 2under a structure that gives protection from the weather Start growing the plants indoors or under cover.
protection/shelter
to leave a place that you have been hiding in, usually at a high speed The vehicles broke cover and headed towards the enemy’s headquarters.
(saying) used to say that you should not form an opinion about somebody/something from their appearance only
hidden or protected by something Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house.
(business) in a separate envelope The information you requested is being forwarded to you under separate cover.
Check pronunciation: cover
