cover

coververb

To cover is to put or spread something over something else, or to deal with the whole of something: a subject, a distance, or a cost.

1. put overput something over or on top of something to hide it or keep it safe

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • Cover the pot and let the soup cook for ten minutes. V + obj
   • She covered her face with her hands. V + obj + prep + obj
   • We covered the furniture with old sheets before we painted. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover your mouth, cover your eyes, cover a wound

   verb + preposition cover something with something

2. lie onlie or spread over the surface of something

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Snow covered the hills. V + obj
   • The walls were covered in old photos. V + obj (passive, with in)
   • His shoes were covered with mud. V + obj (passive, with with)
   • Forest covers most of the island. V + obj

   Collocations

   adverb + verb be completely covered, be thickly covered, be partly covered

   phrase be covered in something, be covered with something

3. includeinclude or deal with a subject or a range of things

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The course covers basic grammar and writing. V + obj
   • We didn't have time to cover the last chapter. V + obj
   • Does the guide cover restaurants as well as hotels? V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover a subject, cover a topic, cover a wide range

   Synonyms include

4. distancetravel a particular distance

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • We covered thirty miles on the first day. V + obj
   • The walkers covered a lot of ground before lunch. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover a distance, cover ground

5. pay forbe enough money to pay for something

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Fifty dollars should cover the cost of the meal. V + obj
   • My pay barely covers the rent. V + obj
   • The money from the sale will cover our costs. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover the cost, cover expenses, cover the rent

6. insurancepromise to pay for loss, damage, or injury, or protect someone in this way

   The subject is usually an insurance policy. The object is the person who is protected or the kind of loss that will be paid for: the policy covers fire damage.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] finance

   • Does your insurance cover damage from floods? V + obj
   • Don't worry, you're covered if the car is stolen. V + obj (passive)
   • The policy covers the whole family. V + obj

   Collocations

   adverb + verb fully cover

   phrase be covered against something, be covered for something

7. report newsreport on an event for a newspaper, television, radio, or a website

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] media

   • She covered the election for a local newspaper. V + obj
   • Several reporters were sent to cover the story. V + obj
   • The game will be covered live on the radio. V + obj (passive)

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover a story, cover an event, cover the news

8. do workdo someone's work for a short time while they are away

   Cover for someone can also mean hide the truth to protect someone who has done something wrong: His friends covered for him when he left work early.

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • Can you cover my shift on Saturday? V + obj
   • Sam is covering for Ana while she's on vacation. V + prep + obj
   • I'll ask Lee to cover for me at the meeting. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition cover for someone

   verb + noun cover a shift, cover a class

9. songrecord or perform a song that someone else first recorded

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] music

   • The band covered an old love song on their new album. V + obj
   • Lots of singers have covered that song. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun cover a song, cover a hit

See also cover up