1 [count] : something that is put around or on top of another thing especially to protect, hide, or close it
▪ She placed a cover over the pan so that the oil wouldn't spatter. ▪ I put a cover on the sofa to protect it. ▪ a mattress cover ▪ I lifted the cover of the box and peaked inside. ▪ He unscrewed the cover [=top, lid] of the jar. 2 [count] : a blanket or sheet on a bed — usually plural ▪ She was in bed lying under the covers. ▪ He threw off the covers and rose to begin the day. 3 [count] a : the outer part of a book or magazine
▪ There's a picture of the author on the book's back/front cover. ▪ The model appeared on the (front) covers of many weeklies. ▪ She read the book from cover to cover. [=she read all of the book] — see also cover girl, cover story
b : the part of the case of a record album, CD, DVD, etc., that is seen from the outside
▪ The singer is posing in jeans and cowboy boots on the album cover. 4 : something that covers the ground or the sky [singular] ▪ The ground was hidden under a cover of snow. ▪ The moon was hidden behind a thick cloud cover. [=behind thick clouds] [noncount] ▪ areas of light plant cover [=areas in which there are few plants] — see also ground cover 5 [noncount] : a place or situation in which you are protected
▪ The roof provided cover from the rain. ▪ The soldiers sought cover behind the wall. ▪ The officer ordered the soldiers to take cover as the enemy began shooting. ▪ The hikers took cover under a tree and waited for the storm to pass. ▪ The hikers ran/dashed/headed for cover as the storm approached. ◊If you break cover, you come out from a place where you have been safe or hidden.
▪ The rabbit suddenly broke cover and ran across the field. 6 [noncount] : something that prevents actions, information, etc., from being seen or known
▪ The crime was committed under (the) cover of darkness/night. [=when it was dark; at night] ▪ an official speaking to a reporter under cover of anonymity [=with the understanding that the reporter would not reveal the official's name] 7 [count] : something that is not what it seems to be but is actually used to hide something else — usually singular ▪ The business was a cover for a criminal gang. ▪ Her job as a consultant was just a cover for her true identity as a secret agent. ▪ He acts tough, but that's just a cover. He's a real softy underneath. ◊A person who is under cover has his or her true identity hidden. The phrase usually describes a person (such as a police officer) who pretends to be someone else in order to get information.
▪ The policeman went under cover to collect more evidence. ▪ The agent was working under cover. ◊To blow someone's cover is to reveal someone's true identity.
▪ The agent posed as a consultant until someone blew her cover. — see also undercover 8 [count] : a recording or performance of a song that was previously recorded by someone else
▪ a cover (version) of a popular song ▪ a cover band [=a band that plays songs previously recorded by other performers] 9 [count] informal : cover charge
▪ The nightclub has a $5 cover. 10 [noncount] Brit : insurance coverage
▪ a policy that provides cover [=(US) coverage] for loss by fire 11 [noncount] : protection from danger, an attack, etc.
▪ They had to land in enemy territory without any air cover. [=protection by military airplanes] ▪ traveling with the benefit of diplomatic cover [=the special protection that is given to a diplomat] 12 [noncount] Brit : work done by someone other than the person who usually does it
▪ A small crew will provide emergency cover during the strike.