cover
verb
uk/ˈkʌvər/ us [ T ]
to include or deal with something:
The seminars cover such topics as making an impact at interview, employability, and what companies are looking for.
Have I covered all your questions?
COMMERCE
to serve customers in a particular area:
Our delivery service covers the entire metropolitan area.
[ T ] FINANCE
to be enough money to pay for something:
My wife earns enough to cover the mortgage.
We only sold enough to cover our costs - we made no profit at all.
The amount was not sufficient to cover all his debts.
The government's guarantee will cover the first £50,000 of people's savings.
[ I or T ] INSURANCE
to protect someone or something against loss, damage, accident, etc., by insurance:
The policy covers employee and public liability, equipment loss, materials, and personal accidents.
cover (sb) against/for sth In general, buildings insurance covers (you) against damage to the house itself and outbuildings such as conservatories and greenhouses.
[ T ]
to protect yourself from being blamed for something:
cover yourself (against something) Always inform a senior colleague of your intentions, in order to cover yourself against accusations of bullying.
[ T ] FINANCE
if a financial organization can cover a loan, it is protected against loss by having enough collateral (= property that a person borrowing money agrees to give to the organization if they fail to pay the debt):
The approval for a home equity loan is usually easy as the lender has collateral to cover the loan amount.
[ T ] FINANCE, STOCK MARKET
to buy shares, currency, etc. that you have arranged to sell in the future, especially if the price is rising and you had expected it to go down:
Tokyo stocks advanced 1.1% Thursday as futures rose and investors scrambled to cover short positions.
[ I or T ] HR
to do someone else's job when they are absent:
cover (for sb) We are expected to cover for each other if someone is absent or is late arriving in the morning.
While he was on sick leave, a colleague covered his job.
cover
noun
uk/ˈkʌvər/ us [ C ]
the stiff outside part of a book or magazine:
She became the first woman to appear on the cover of Business Week.
[ U ] INSURANCE UK (also insurance cover); ( US coverage)
financial protection against loss, damage, injury, etc., which an insurance company sells:
health/liability/life/travel cover A firm employing staff needs to have employers' liability cover.
buy/get/take out cover (for/against sth) Homeworkers can get insurance cover for copiers and faxes but premium costs vary widely.
provide cover (for/against sth) The policy provides cover for loss or damage to property owned by the insured.
For a small additional premium, you can increase this cover to £100,000.
[ U ] FINANCE
the fact of being enough to pay for something:
The property that is being offered as collateral will be sufficient cover for the loan amount.
[ U ] HR
the situation in which someone does someone else's job when they are absent:
Employees need cover for days they have to stay home to care for sick children.
See also
continental cover
dividend cover
forward cover
interest cover