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1. A natural object that covers or envelops
   "under a covering of dust";
   - natural covering, cover
    
2. An artifact that covers something else (usually to protect, shelter or conceal it)
    
3. The act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it
   "the covering concealed their guns from enemy aircraft";
   - cover, screening, masking
    
4. The act of protecting something by covering it
    
5. The work of applying something
   "the doctor prescribed a topical covering of iodine";
   - application, coating

1. 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"
    
2. Form a cover over
   "The grass covered the grave";
   - spread over
    
3. Span an interval of distance, space or time
   "The period covered the turn of the century"; "This farm covers some 200 acres";
   - continue, extend
    
4. Provide for
   "The grant doesn't cover my salary"
    
5. Act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
   "The course covered all of Western Civilization";
   - treat, handle, plow [N. Amer], deal, address, plough [Brit, Cdn]
    
6. Include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
   "this should cover everyone in the group";
   - embrace, encompass, comprehend
    
7. Travel across or pass over
   "The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day";
   - traverse, track, cross, pass over, get over, get across, cut through, cut across
    
8. Be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism
   "The cub reporter covered New York City";
   - report
    
9. Hold within range of an aimed firearm
    
10. To take an action to protect against future problems
    "Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself"
     
11. Hide from view or knowledge
    "The President covered the fact that he bugged the offices in the White House";
    - cover up, paper over
     
12. Protect or defend (a position in a game)
    "he covered left field"
     
13. Maintain a check on; especially by patrolling
    "The second officer covered the top floor"
     
14. Protect by insurance
    "The insurance won't cover this";
    - insure, underwrite
     
15. Make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
    "he is covering for being a bad father";
    - compensate, overcompensate
     
16. Invest with a large or excessive amount of something
    "She covered herself with glory"
     
17. Help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities
    "She is covering for our secretary who is ill this week"
     
18. Be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of
    "Is this enough to cover the check?"
     
19. Spread over a surface to conceal or protect
    "This paint covers well"
     
20. Cover as if with a shroud
    "The origins of this civilization are covered in mystery";
    - shroud, enshroud, hide
     
21. (animal husbandry) copulate with a female, used especially of horses
    "The horse covers the mare";
    - breed
     
22. Put something on top of something else
    "cover the meat with a lot of gravy";
    - overlay
     
23. (card game) play a higher card than the one previously played
    "Smith covered again"
     
24. Be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
     
25. Sit on (eggs)
    "The female covers the eggs";
    - brood, hatch, incubate
     
26. Clothe, as if for protection from the elements
    "cover your head!";
    - wrap up

Derived forms: coverings

Type of: adjoin, apparel, artefact [Brit], artifact [N. Amer], ascertain, assure, be, broach, check, clothe, compensate, conceal, concealing, concealment, contact, control, copulate, correct, counterbalance, couple, deputise [Brit], deputize, dress, empower, enclose, enclothe, endow, endue, enfold, ensure, envelop, enwrap, even off, even out, even up, fit out, fulfil [Brit, Cdn], fulfill [N. Amer], garb, garment, gift, guarantee, habilitate [archaic], hide, hiding, include, indue, inform, initiate, insure, invest, live up to, make up, manual labor [US], manual labour [Brit, Cdn], mate, meet, multiply, natural object, pair, pass, play, procreate, protect, protection, raiment [archaic], reproduce, satisfy, see, see to it, step in, sub [informal], substitute, tog [informal], touch, warrant, wrap

Antonym: expose

Encyclopedia: Covering