Cov"er (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.] [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient, Overt, Curfew.] 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. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throune.
Milton.
All that beauty than doth cover thee.
Shak.
3. 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.
4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the snemy 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.
5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs.
Addison.
6. To overwhelm; to spread over.
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen.
Ex. xiv. 28.
7. 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.
8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. "Blessed is he whose is covered."
Ps. xxxii. 1.
9. 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.
10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.
Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered.
Shak.
11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as. a horse covers a mare; -- said of the male.
To cover ground ∨ 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.
© Webster 1913.
Cov"er (k?v"?r), n. 1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
2. Anything which weils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloack. "Under cover of the night."
Macualay.
A hendsome cover for imperfections.
Collier.
3. 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.
4. Huntig The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above.
Knight.
6. Steam Engine The lap of a slide valve.
7. [Cf. F. couvert.] 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.
© Webster 1913.
Cov"er, v. i. To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913. | 
