cover
A1Neutral; used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
to place something over or upon an object or area to conceal, protect, or enclose it; the thing that performs this action.
To provide protection, insurance, or guarantee for something; to report on or deal with a subject or event; to travel a certain distance; in music, to perform a version of a song originally by another artist.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has high polysemy, functioning as verb, noun, and adjective. The noun often relates to a physical object or insurance. The verb ranges from literal (covering with a blanket) to abstract (covering a news story).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in past tense/past participle (covered). No major lexical differences. 'Cover note' (UK) is a temporary insurance document; 'binder' is a closer US equivalent. 'Dust cover' (UK)/'dust jacket' (US) for a book.
Connotations
Largely identical. In journalism, 'to cover' an event is standard in both.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cover + object (She covered the cake.)cover + object + with + noun (He covered the wall with posters.)cover + for + person (Can you cover for me at work?)cover + distance (We covered 50 miles today.)cover + topic (The lecture covers the Cold War.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “blow one's cover”
- “cover all the bases”
- “cover your tracks”
- “under cover of darkness”
- “judge a book by its cover”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Insurance coverage; a cover letter for a job application; covering a shift.
Academic
A textbook cover; a course covering a period of history.
Everyday
Put a cover on the sofa; cover a pot while cooking.
Technical
Ground cover in ecology; cover of a manifold in mathematics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The book has a colourful cover.
- Do you have adequate cover for your mobile phone?
- They operated under cover of darkness.
American English
- There's a $10 cover charge to get into the club.
- Her role was to provide cover for the agents.
- They recorded a great cover of an old jazz standard.
verb
British English
- Could you cover the biscuits so they don't go soft?
- The journalist was sent to cover the election.
- Does your travel insurance cover cancellations?
American English
- Can you cover for me at the meeting tomorrow?
- We need to cover 300 miles before nightfall.
- The textbook covers the basics of economics.
adjective
British English
- She brought a cover story for her absence.
- The cover band played all the hits.
- Use the cover sheet for your assignment.
American English
- The team executed a perfect cover play in football.
- He worked as a cover driver for the delivery service.
- Check the cover page for instructions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please cover the food.
- I like the cover of this book.
- It's raining. Do you have something to cover your head?
- The insurance should cover any damage.
- She used a cloth to cover the table.
- The news will cover the royal wedding.
- The report fails to cover several critical issues.
- He agreed to cover my rent until I find a job.
- The forest floor was covered with a thick layer of moss.
- The policy provides worldwide cover for all medical emergencies.
- His research covers the intersection of technology and ethics.
- The agent's cover was blown after a routine security check.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COVer on a bed – it's something you pull OVER yourself.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A COVERING (e.g., 'covered by insurance', 'diplomatic cover'). KNOWING IS SEEING, therefore PREVENTING KNOWING IS COVERING (e.g., 'cover up the truth').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'cover' (накрывать, покрывать) with 'to recover' (выздоравливать, восстанавливать).
- The noun 'cover' (крышка, обложка) is not the same as 'carpet' (ковёр).
- 'Cover for someone' means замещать, not just 'cover' physically.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I covered the book by a paper.' Correct: 'I covered the book with paper.'
- Incorrect: 'My insurance doesn't cover for theft.' Correct: 'My insurance doesn't cover theft.' (no 'for' with the object of coverage).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of journalism, what does 'to cover an event' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb: cover, covered, covered.
A 'lid' is a specific type of cover for a container (pot, box). 'Cover' is more general and can be a blanket, a book cover, or insurance coverage.
Yes, in the phrasal verb 'cover for someone' (e.g., 'I'm covering for my colleague while she's on holiday').
It's an idiom meaning to read an entire book, magazine, or report from the first page to the last.