COVER, v.t. [L.]

1. Any thing which is laid, set or spread over another thing; as, the cover of a vessel; the cover of a bed.
2. Any thing which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; superficial appearance. Affected gravity may serve as a cover for a deceitful heart.
3. Shelter; defense; protection. The troops fought under cover of the batteries.
4. Concealment and protection. The army advanced under cover of the night.
5. Shelter; retreat; in hunting.
6. A plate set on the table.

1. To overspread the surface of a thing with another substance to lay or set over; as, to cover a table with a cloth, or a floor with a carpet. The valleys are covered with corn. – Ps. lxv. The locusts shall cover the face of the earth. – Ex. x.
2. To hide; to conceal by something overspread. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me. – Ps. cxxxix.
3. To conceal by some intervening object; as, the enemy was covered from our sight by a forest.
4. To clothe; as, to cover with a robe or mantle; to cover nakedness. – 1 Sam. xxviii, 14. Ex. xxviii, 42.
5. To overwhelm. The waters covered the chariots and horsemen. – Ex. xiv. Let them be covered with reproach. – Ps. lxxi.
6. To conceal from notice or punishment. Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. – 1 Pet. iv.
7. To conceal; to refrain from disclosing or confessing. He that covereth his sin shall not prosper. Prov. xxviii.
8. To pardon or remit. Blessed is he whose sin is covered. – Ps. xxxii.
9. To vail, applied to women. – 1 Cor. xi. To wear a hat, applied to men. Be covered, sir.
10. To wrap, infold or envelop; as, to cover a package of goods.
11. To shelter; to protect; to defend. A squadron of horse covered the troops on the retreat. And the soft wings of peace cover him around. – Cowley.
12. To brood; to incubate; as, a hen covering her eggs. – Addison.
13. To copulate with a female.
14. To equal, or be of equal extent; to be equivalent to; as, the receipts do not cover the expenses; a mercantile use of the word.
15. To disguise; to conceal hypocritically.
16. To include, embrace or comprehend. This land was covered by a mortgage. – Johnson's Rep.

1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.
2. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
3. To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.
4. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
   
   

   And with the majesty of darkness round
   Covers his throne.
   Milton.

   All that beauty than doth cover thee.
   Shak.

5. Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak.
   
   
   "Under cover of the night." Macaulay.

   A handsome cover for imperfections.
   Collier.

6. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.
   
   

   The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland.
   Brougham.

7. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.
   
   

   Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire.
   Clarendon.

8. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods.
   
   

   A cloud covered the mount.
   Exod. xxiv. 15.

   In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
   Milton.

9. The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
10. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
    
    

    While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs.
    Addison.

11. The lap of a slide valve.
12. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat.
    
    

    His calm and blameless life
    Does with substantial blessedness abound,
    And the soft wings of peace cover him round.
    Cowley.

13. A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.
    
    

    To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; -- said of game. -- Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a written message.

    Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship.
    Thackeray.

14. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
    
    
    "Blessed is he whose is covered." Ps. xxxii. 1.
15. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
16. To put the usual covering or headdress on.
    
    

    Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered.
    Shak.

17. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; -- said of the male.
    
    

    To cover ground or distance, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour. -- To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself. -- Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches. -- To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.

    Syn. -- To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.