- 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 picture at laboratory see dust cover, slip cover
- 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.
- 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). with weapons
- 4[uncountable] support and protection that is provided when someone is attacking or in danger of being attacked The ships needed air cover (= protection by military planes) once they reached enemy waters. trees/plants
- 5[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. cloud/snow
- 6[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. on bed
- 7the 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.
- 8[countable] = cover version hiding something
- 9[countable, usually singular] cover (for something) activities or behavior that seem honest or true but that hide someone'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 overconfident 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). for someone's work
- 10[uncountable] the fact of someone 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. Idioms
- 1pretending to be someone 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 toward the enemy's headquarters.
used to say that you should not form an opinion about someone or something from their appearance only
hidden or protected by something Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house.
in a separate envelope The information you requested is being forwarded to you under separate cover.
Check pronunciation: cover