Cov·er v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.]
 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 throne.   --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 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.
 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.”
 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 or To cover 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.