cover
Other forms: covered; covering; covers
To cover something is to conceal it by putting something on top of it. In many religions, it's important for people to cover their heads in various instances.
You might cover your picnic table with a bright tablecloth for a party, or cover the mirrors in your house when you're mourning a family member. Gardeners cover their beds with mulch or compost, scattering a layer on top, and painters cover dingy old paint with a fresh new coat. If a politician covers something up, he attempts to hide some mistake or wrongdoing. When cover is a noun, it can mean "a lid" or "a secret identity."
Definitions of cover
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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”
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Synonyms:
-
spread over
form a cover over
-
overlay
put something on top of something else
-
types:
- show 161 types...
- hide 161 types...
-
frost
cover with frost
-
frost
provide with a rough or speckled surface or appearance
-
daub, smear
cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it
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roof
provide a building with a roof; cover a building with a roof
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mulch
cover with mulch
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turf
cover (the ground) with a surface layer of grass or grass roots
-
bank
cover with ashes so to control the rate of burning
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carpet
cover with a carpet
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carpet
cover completely, as if with a carpet
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board up
cover with wooden boards
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bedaub, besmear
spread or daub (a surface)
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bark
cover with bark
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coat, surface
put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
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butter
spread butter on
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paper, wallpaper
cover with wallpaper
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canvas
cover with canvas
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paper
cover with paper
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oil
cover with oil, as if by rubbing
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wax
cover with wax
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veneer
cover with veneer
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grease
lubricate with grease
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wash
apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc., to
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line
cover the interior of
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face
cover the front or surface of
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feather
cover or fit with feathers
-
wrap, wrap up
arrange or fold as a cover or protection
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spritz
cover (a location) wholly or partially by squirting a liquid onto it
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felt
cover with felt
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paste
cover the surface of
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cloak
cover with or as if with a cloak
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coif
cover with a coif
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hold
cover as for protection against noise or smell
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jacket
provide with a thermally non-conducting cover
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foil
cover or back with foil
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white out, whiteout
cover up with a liquid correction fluid
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flash
protect by covering with a thin sheet of metal
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pall
cover with a pall
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sod
cover with sod
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bind
provide with a binding
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plank, plank over
cover with planks
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parcel
cover with strips of canvas
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flake
cover with flakes or as if with flakes
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recover
cover anew
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hood
cover with a hood
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cowl
cover with or as with a cowl
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clapboard
cover with clapboards
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canopy
cover with a canopy
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bread
cover with bread crumbs
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blinker
put blinders on (a horse)
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blindfold
cover the eyes of (someone) to prevent him or her from seeing
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aluminise, aluminize
cover with aluminum
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crown
put an enamel cover on
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sheet
cover with a sheet, as if by wrapping
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tile
cover with tiles
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lag
cover with lagging to prevent heat loss
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mask
put a mask on or cover with a mask
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block out, mask
shield from light
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mask
cover with a sauce
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blanket
cover as if with a blanket
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plaster, plaster over, stick on
apply a heavy coat to
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plaster
apply a plaster cast to
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paint
apply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oil
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apply, put on
apply to a surface
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laminate
cover with a thin sheet of non-fabric material
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spray
cover by spraying with a liquid
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brush
cover by brushing
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frost, ice
decorate with frosting
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smother, surround
envelop completely
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enclose, enfold, envelop, enwrap, wrap
enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
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sheathe
cover with a protective sheathing
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crape, crepe
cover or drape with crape
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concrete
cover with cement
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blacklead
cover with graphite
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grass
cover with grass
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gravel
cover with gravel
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lime
cover with lime so as to induce growth
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mound over
form mounds over
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straw
cover or provide with or as if with straw
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spread
cover by spreading something over
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drape
cover or dress loosely with cloth
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dust
cover with a light dusting of a substance
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beplaster, plaster
cover conspicuously or thickly, as by pasting something on
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steel
cover, plate, or edge with steel
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rubber, rubberise, rubberize
coat or impregnate with rubber
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anodise, anodize
coat a metal with an oxide coat
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gelatinize
coat with gelatin
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dab, swab, swob
apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
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blood
smear with blood, as in a hunting initiation rite, where the face of a person is smeared with the blood of the kill
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thatch
cover with thatch
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shingle
cover with shingles
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skim
coat (a liquid) with a layer
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stucco
coat with stucco
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egg
coat with beaten egg
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encrust, incrust
cover or coat with a crust
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dredge
cover before cooking
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soot
coat with soot
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refinish
give a new surface
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brush on
apply with a brush
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patinate, patinise, patinize
coat with a patina
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resurface
cover with a new surface
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crumb
coat with bread crumbs
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copper
coat with a layer of copper
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finish
provide with a finish
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bonderise, bonderize
coat with a substance that will prevent corrosion
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blacktop
coat with blacktop
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foliate
coat or back with metal foil
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galvanise, galvanize
cover with zinc
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pave
cover with a material such as stone or concrete to make suitable for vehicle traffic
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beeswax
cover with beeswax
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seal, varnish
cover with varnish
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glaze
coat with a glaze
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whitewash
cover with whitewash
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reline
provide with a new lining
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revet
face with a layer of stone or concrete or other supporting material so as to retain
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reface
provide with a new facing
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face
line the edge (of a garment) with a different material
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crib
line with beams or planks
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babbitt
line with a Babbitt metal
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tar
coat with tar
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do up
wrap for decorative purposes
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parcel
make into a wrapped container
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cere
wrap up in a cerecloth
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shrinkwrap
wrap something tightly with heated plastic that shrinks upon cooling
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gift-wrap
wrap (a gift) attractively
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shroud
wrap in a shroud
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daub
apply to a surface
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enrobe
provide with a coating
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rebind
provide with a new binding
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slate
cover with slate
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tessellate
tile with tesserae
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daub, plaster
coat with plaster
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render
coat with plastic or cement
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skimcoat
coat with a mixture of gypsum and spackle
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paint
apply paint to; coat with paint
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gum
cover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gum
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dress
put a dressing on
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cream
put on cream, as on one's face or body
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cold-cream
put cold cream on one's face
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putty
apply putty in order to fix or fill
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sponge on
apply with a sponge
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clap on, slam on, slap on
apply carelessly
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cement
cover or coat with cement
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slather
spread thickly
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benight
envelop with social, intellectual, or moral darkness
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grit
cover with a grit
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plate
coat with a layer of metal
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tube
place or enclose in a tube
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capsulate, capsule, capsulise, capsulize
enclose in a capsule
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engulf
flow over or cover completely
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sheathe
enclose with a sheath
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invaginate
sheathe
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cocoon
wrap in or as if in a cocoon, as for protection
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bathe
suffuse with or as if with light
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enshroud, hide, shroud
cover as if with a shroud
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metal
cover with metal
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macadamise, macadamize, tarmac
surface with macadam
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size
cover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance)
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metalize, metallize
coat with metal
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platinize
coat with metallic platinum
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porcelainize
coat with porcelain or a porcelain-like surface
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zinc
coat or cover with zinc
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spread over
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form a cover over“The grass covered the grave”
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synonyms:
spread over
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types:
- show 17 types...
- hide 17 types...
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flood
cover with liquid, usually water
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bloody
cover with blood
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mist, mist over
become covered with mist
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glaciate
cover with ice or snow or a glacier
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strew
cover; be dispersed over
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grass, grass over
cover with grass
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cake, coat
form a coat over
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drown, overwhelm, submerge
cover completely or make imperceptible
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mantle
cover like a mantle
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cloak, clothe, drape, robe
cover as if with clothing
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blanket
form a blanket-like cover (over)
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carpet
form a carpet-like cover (over)
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smother
form an impenetrable cover over
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shroud
form a cover like a shroud
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flow
cover or swamp with water
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deluge, inundate, submerge
fill or cover completely, usually with water
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drench, swamp
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
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cover as if with a shroud
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put something on top of something else
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sit on (eggs)
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spread over a surface to conceal or protect
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clothe, as if for protection from the elements
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invest with a large or excessive amount of something
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hide from view or knowledge“The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White House”
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synonyms:
cover up
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types:
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gloss over, hush up, sleek over, whitewash
cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error
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blinker
cause to have a limited or narrow view of a situation
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gloss over, hush up, sleek over, whitewash
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make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
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synonyms:
compensate, overcompensate
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insure, underwrite
protect by insurance
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type of:
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compensate, correct, counterbalance, even off, even out, even up, make up
adjust for
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insure, underwrite
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play a higher card than the one previously played“Smith covered again”
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type of:
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play
put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
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play
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a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something“under cover of darkness”
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synonyms:
concealment, covert, screen
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types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
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blind
a hiding place sometimes used by hunters (especially duck hunters)
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camouflage
device or stratagem for concealment or deceit
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shoji
a translucent screen made of a wooden frame covered with rice paper
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stalking-horse
screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
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type of:
-
covering
an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
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a natural object that covers or envelops“the fox was flushed from its cover”
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synonyms:
covering, natural covering
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types:
- show 70 types...
- hide 70 types...
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scale
a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals
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shell
the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusk or a brachiopod
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test
a hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins
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body covering
any covering for the body or a body part
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case, sheath
an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part
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integument
an outer protective covering such as the skin of an animal or a cuticle or seed coat or rind or shell
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blanket, mantle
anything that covers
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crust, encrustation, incrustation
a hard outer layer that covers something
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envelope
a natural covering (as by a fluid)
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cap, hood
a protective covering that is part of a plant
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indument, indumentum
a covering of fine hairs (or sometimes scales) as on a leaf or insect
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roof
the inner top surface of a covered area or hollow space
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shell
a rigid covering that envelops an object
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eggshell, shell
the exterior covering of a bird's egg
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skim
a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid
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slough
any outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake)
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snowcap
a covering of snow (as on a mountain peak)
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vesture
something that covers or cloaks like a garment
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peridium
outer layer of the spore-bearing organ in many fungi
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pericarp, seed vessel
the ripened and variously modified walls of a plant ovary
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chlamys, floral envelope, perianth, perigone, perigonium
collective term for the outer parts of a flower consisting of the calyx and corolla and enclosing the stamens and pistils
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sac, theca
a case or sheath especially a pollen sac or moss capsule
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indusium
a membrane enclosing and protecting the developing spores especially that covering the sori of a fern
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bark
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
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canopy
the uppermost layer of branches and foliage in a forest
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hide, pelt, skin
body covering of a living animal
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feather, plumage, plume
the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
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protective covering
the tough natural covering of some organisms
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fish scale
scale of the kind that covers the bodies of fish
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squama
a protective structure resembling a scale
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valve
one of the paired hinged shells of certain molluscs and of brachiopods
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valve
the entire one-piece shell of a snail and certain other molluscs
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scallop shell
a shell of a scallop
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oyster shell
a shell of an oyster
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phragmacone, phragmocone
the thin conical chambered internal shell (either straight or curved) of a belemnite
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theca
outer sheath of the pupa of certain insects
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lorica
a hard protective sheath (as secreted by certain protoctists, for example)
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seashell
the shell of a marine organism
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clamshell
the shell of a clam
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cutis, skin, tegument
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
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exuviae
cast-off skins or coverings of various organisms during ecdysis
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hair
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
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headful
a covering over the surface of your head
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medullary sheath, myelin sheath
a layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibers
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neurilemma, neurolemma
thin membranous sheath around a nerve fiber
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epicranium
the muscle and aponeurosis and skin covering the cranium
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exoskeleton
the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs
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calculus, tartar, tophus
an incrustation that forms on the teeth and gums
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epicarp, exocarp
outermost layer of the pericarp of fruits as the skin of a peach or grape
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mesocarp
the middle layer of a pericarp
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endocarp, pit, stone
the hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some fruits (as peaches or plums or cherries or olives) that contains the seed
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capsule
a dry dehiscent seed vessel or the spore-containing structure of e.g. mosses
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cinnamon, cinnamon bark
aromatic bark used as a spice
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Chinese cinnamon, cassia bark
aromatic bark of the cassia-bark tree; less desirable as a spice than Ceylon cinnamon bark
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cinnamon bark
aromatic bark of Saigon cinnamon used medicinally as a carminative
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magnolia
dried bark of various magnolias; used in folk medicine
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bur, burr
seed vessel having hooks or prickles
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tanbark
bark rich in tannin; bruised and cut in pieces to use for tanning; spent tanbark used as a ground covering
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mezereum
the dried bark of the shrub mezereon
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canella, canella bark, white cinnamon
highly aromatic inner bark of the Canella winterana used as a condiment and a tonic
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falls
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
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Jesuit's bark, Peruvian bark, cinchona, cinchona bark
medicinal bark of cinchona trees; source of quinine and quinidine
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cascarilla bark, eleuthera bark, sweetwood bark
aromatic bark of cascarilla; used as a tonic and for making incense
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husk
outer membranous covering of some fruits or seeds
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cascara, cascara sagrada, chittam bark, chittem bark
dried bark of the cascara buckthorn used as a laxative
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winter's bark
aromatic bark having tonic and stimulant properties
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tapa, tapa bark, tappa, tappa bark
the thin fibrous bark of the paper mulberry and Pipturus albidus
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angostura, angostura bark
the bitter bark of a South American tree; used in medicines and liqueurs and bitters
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cork
outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
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cork, phellem
(botany) outer tissue of bark; a protective layer of dead cells
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type of:
-
natural object
an object occurring naturally; not made by man
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the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it“the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft”
-
type of:
-
concealing, concealment, hiding
the activity of keeping something secret
-
concealing, concealment, hiding
-
covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)“put the cover back on the kettle”
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synonyms:
top
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types:
- show 8 types...
- hide 8 types...
-
cap
a top (as for a bottle)
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lid
a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.
-
manhole cover
a flush iron cover for a manhole (as in a street)
-
screwtop
the top of a container that must be screwed off and on
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bottlecap
a cap that seals a bottle
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nipple
a flexible cap on a baby's feeding bottle or pacifier
-
radiator cap
cap on the opening in the top of a radiator through which a coolant liquid can be added
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trunk lid
hinged lid for a trunk
-
type of:
-
covering
an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
-
the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
-
synonyms:
back, binding, book binding
-
types:
-
half binding
book binding in which the spine and part of the sides are bound in one material and the rest in another
-
three-quarter binding
the spine and much of the sides are a different material from the rest of the cover
-
type of:
-
protection, protective cover, protective covering
a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury
-
half binding
-
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed“he pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep”
-
synonyms:
blanket
-
types:
- show 5 types...
- hide 5 types...
-
afghan
a blanket knitted or crocheted in strips or squares; sometimes used as a shawl
-
electric blanket
a blanket containing and electric heating element that can be controlled to the desired temperature by a rheostat
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Mackinaw blanket, mackinaw
a thick plaid blanket formerly used in the northwestern United States
-
manta
a blanket that is used as a cloak or shawl
-
security blanket
a blanket (or toy) that a child carries around in order to reduce anxiety
-
type of:
-
bed clothing, bedclothes, bedding
coverings that are used on a bed
-
a false identity and background (especially one created for an undercover agent)“her new name and passport are cover for her next assignment”
-
type of:
-
concealing, concealment, hiding
the activity of keeping something secret
-
concealing, concealment, hiding
-
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
-
span an interval of distance, space or time“The period covered the turn of the century”“This farm covers some 200 acres”
-
types:
- show 9 types...
- hide 9 types...
-
cross, span, sweep, traverse
to cover or extend over an area or time period
-
sweep
cover the entire range of
-
overlap
extend over and cover a part of
-
overspread, spread
spread across or over
-
ridge
extend in ridges
-
constellate, dot, stud
scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
-
rake
sweep the length of
-
imbricate
overlap
-
transgress
spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline
-
type of:
-
be
occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
-
be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism
-
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression“The course covered all of Western Civilization”
-
do by, handle, treat
interact in a certain way
-
comprehend, embrace, encompass
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
-
types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
-
theologise, theologize
treat from a theological viewpoint or render theological in character
-
discourse, discuss, talk about
consider or examine in speech or writing
-
descant
talk at great length about something of one's interest
-
talk shop
discuss matters that are related to work
-
do by, handle, treat
-
travel across or pass over“The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day”
-
synonyms:
cross, cut across, cut through, get across, get over, pass over, track, traverse
-
types:
- show 10 types...
- hide 10 types...
-
tramp
cross on foot
-
stride
cover or traverse by taking long steps
-
walk
traverse or cover by walking
-
crisscross
cross in a pattern, often random
-
ford
cross a river where it's shallow
-
bridge
cross over on a bridge
-
jaywalk
cross the road at a red light
-
drive, take
proceed along in a vehicle
-
course
move swiftly through or over
-
hop
traverse as if by a short airplane trip
-
type of:
-
go across, go through, pass
go across or through
-
copulate with a female, used especially of horses
-
a recording of a song that was first recorded or made popular by somebody else“they made a cover of a Beatles' song”
-
synonyms:
cover song, cover version
-
type of:
-
recording
a storage device on which information (sounds or images) have been recorded
-
recording
-
provide for“The grant doesn't cover my salary”
-
type of:
-
fulfil, fulfill, live up to, satisfy
meet the requirements or expectations of
-
fulfil, fulfill, live up to, satisfy
-
be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of“Is this enough to cover the check?”
-
type of:
-
be
have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
-
be
-
help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities“She is covering for our secretary who is ill this week”
-
type of:
-
deputise, deputize, step in, substitute
act as a substitute
-
deputise, deputize, step in, substitute
-
maintain a check on; especially by patrolling
-
be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
-
protect or defend (a position in a game)“he covered left field”
-
types:
-
double-team
cover with two defensive players
-
double-team
-
hold within range of an aimed firearm
-
to take an action to protect against future problems“Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself”
-
Synonyms:
-
insure, underwrite
protect by insurance
-
insure, underwrite
-
protect by insurance“The insurance won't cover this”
-
synonyms:
insure, underwrite
-
compensate, overcompensate
make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
-
compensate, overcompensate
-
fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations“artillery provided covering fire for the withdrawal”
-
synonyms:
covering fire
-
a fixed charge by a restaurant or nightclub over and above the charge for food and drink
-
synonyms:
cover charge
-
type of:
-
fixed charge, fixed cost, fixed costs
a periodic charge that does not vary with business volume (as insurance or rent or mortgage payments etc.)
-
fixed charge, fixed cost, fixed costs
Pronunciation
US
/ˈkəvər/
UK
/ˈkəvə/
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