to be or serve as a covering for; extend over; rest on the surface of: Snow covered the fields.
2.
to place something over or upon, as for protection, concealment, or warmth.
3.
to provide with a covering or top: Cover the pot with a lid.
4.
to protect or conceal (the body, head, etc.) with clothes, a hat, etc; wrap.
5.
to bring upon (oneself): He covered himself with glory by his exploits.
6.
to hide from view; screen.
7.
to spread on or over; apply to: to cover bread with honey.
8.
to put all over the surface of: to cover a wall with paint.
9.
to include, deal with, or provide for; address: The rules cover working conditions.
10.
to suffice to defray or meet (a charge, expense, etc.): Ten dollars should cover my expenses.
11.
to offset (an outlay, loss, liability, etc.).
12.
to achieve in distance traversed; pass or travel over: We covered 600 miles a day on our trip.
13.
Journalism.
a.
to act as a reporter or reviewer of (an event, a field of interest, a performance, etc.); have as an assignment: She covers sports for the paper.
b.
to publish or broadcast a report or reports of (a news item, a series of related events, etc.): The press covered the trial in great detail.
14.
to pass or rise over and surmount or envelop: The river covered the town during the flood.
15.
Insurance. to insure against risk or loss.
16.
to shelter; protect; serve as a defense for.
17.
Military.
a.
to be in line with by occupying a position directly before or behind.
b.
to protect (a soldier, force, or military position) during an expected period of ground combat by taking a position from which any hostile troops can be fired upon.
18.
to take temporary charge of or responsibility for in place of another: Please cover my phone while I'm out to lunch.
19.
to extend over; comprise: The book covers 18th-century England.
20.
to be assigned to or responsible for, as a territory or field of endeavor: We have two sales representatives covering the Southwest.
21.
to aim at, as with a pistol.
22.
to have within range, as a fortress does adjacent territory.
23.
to play a card higher than (the one led or previously played in the round).
24.
to deposit the equivalent of (money deposited), as in wagering.
25.
to accept the conditions of (a bet, wager, etc.).
26.
(in short selling) to purchase securities or commodities in order to deliver them to the broker from whom they were borrowed.
27.
Baseball. to take a position close to or at (a base) so as to catch a ball thrown to the base: The shortstop covered second on the attempted steal.
28.
Sports. to guard (an opponent on offense) so as to prevent him or her from scoring or carrying out his or her assignment: to cover a potential pass receiver.
29.
(esp. of a male animal) to copulate with.
30.
(of a hen) to brood or sit on (eggs or chicks).
–verb (used without object)
31.
Informal. to serve as a substitute for someone who is absent: We cover for the receptionist during lunch hour.
32.
to hide the wrongful or embarrassing action of another by providing an alibi or acting in the other's place: They covered for him when he missed roll call.
33.
to play a card higher than the one led or previously played in the round: She led the eight and I covered with the jack.
34.
to spread over an area or surface, esp. for the purpose of obscuring an existing covering or of achieving a desired thickness and evenness: This paint is much too thin to cover.
–noun
35.
something that covers, as the lid of a container or the binding of a book.
36.
a blanket, quilt, or the like: Put another cover on the bed.
37.
protection; shelter; concealment.
38.
anything that veils, screens, or shuts from sight: under cover of darkness.
39.
woods, underbrush, etc., serving to shelter and conceal wild animals or game; a covert.
40.
Ecology. vegetation that serves to protect or conceal animals, such as birds, from excessive sunlight, from drying, or from predators.
41.
a set of eating utensils and the like, as plate, knife, fork, and napkin, placed for each person at a table.
42.
an assumed identity, occupation, or business that masks the true or real one: His job at the embassy was a cover for his work as a spy.
43.
a covering of snow, esp. when suitable for skiing.
44.
a pretense; feigning.
45.
a person who substitutes for another or stands ready to substitute if needed: She was hired as a cover for six roles at the opera house.
Also called covering.Mathematics. a collection of sets having the property that a given set is contained in the union of the sets in the collection.
—Verb phrase
51.
cover up,
a.
to cover completely; enfold.
b.
to keep secret; conceal: She tried to cover up her part in the plot.
—Idioms
52.
blow one's cover, to divulge one's secret identity, esp. inadvertently: The TV news story blew his carefully fabricated cover.
53.
break cover, to emerge, esp. suddenly, from a place of concealment: The fox broke cover and the chase was on.
54.
cover one's ass, Slang:Vulgar. to take measures that will prevent one from suffering blame, loss, harm, etc.
55.
take cover, to seek shelter or safety: The hikers took cover in a deserted cabin to escape the sudden storm.
56.
under cover,
a.
clandestinely; secretly: Arrangements for the escape were made under cover.
b.
within an envelope: The report will be mailed to you under separate cover.
Origin: 1200–50; ME coveren < OF covrir < L cooperīre to cover completely, equiv. to co-co-+ operīre to shut, close, cover (op-, appar. for ob-ob-+ -erīre;see aperient)
Related forms:
cov⋅er⋅a⋅ble, adjective
cov⋅er⋅er, noun
cov⋅er⋅less, adjective
Synonyms: 2.overlay, overspread, envelop, enwrap. 6.cloak, conceal. 11.counterbalance, compensate for. 37, 38.Cover,protection,screen,shelter mean a defense against harm or danger and a provision for safety. The main idea in cover is that of concealment, as in darkness, in a wood, or behind something: The ground troops were left without cover when the air force was withdrawn. Screen refers especially to something behind which one can hide: A heavy fire formed a screen for ground operations. Protection and shelter emphasize the idea of a guard or defense, a shield against injury or death. A protection is any such shield: In World War II, an air cover of airplanes served as a protection for troops. A shelter is something that covers over and acts as a place of refuge: An abandoned monastery acted as a shelter.
break (brāk) v.
broke (brōk), bro·ken (brō'kən), break·ing, breaks
v.
tr.
To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting: break crackers for a baby.
To separate into components or parts: broke the work into discrete tasks.
To fracture a bone of: I broke my leg.
To fracture (a bone): I broke my femur.
To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items): broke the set of books by giving some away.
To exchange for smaller monetary units: break a dollar.
To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To snap off or detach: broke a twig from the tree.
To fracture a bone of: I broke my leg.
To fracture (a bone): I broke my femur.
To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items): broke the set of books by giving some away.
To exchange for smaller monetary units: break a dollar.
To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To crack without separating into pieces.
To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items): broke the set of books by giving some away.
To exchange for smaller monetary units: break a dollar.
To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To vary or disrupt the uniformity or continuity of: a plain that was broken by low hills; caught the ball without breaking stride.
Electricity To render (a circuit) inoperative by disruption; open.
To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To produce (a sweat) copiously on the skin, as from exercise.
To force one's way out of; escape from: break jail.
To make or bring about by cutting or forcing: break a trail through the woods.
To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To make known, as news: break a story.
To surpass or outdo: broke the league's home-run record.
To overcome or put an end to, especially by force or strong opposition: break a deadlock in negotiations; break a strike.
Sports To win a game on (an opponent's service), as in tennis.
To lessen the force or effect of: break a fall.
To render useless or inoperative: We accidentally broke the radio.
To weaken or destroy, as in spirit or health; overwhelm with adversity: "For a hero loves the world till it breaks him"(William Butler Yeats).
To cause the ruin or failure of (an enterprise, for example): Indiscretion broke both marriage and career.
To reduce in rank; demote.
To cause to be without money or to go into bankruptcy.
To fail to fulfill; cancel: break an engagement.
To fail to conform to; violate: break the speed limit.
Law To invalidate (a will) by judicial action.
To give up (a habit).
To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
To train to obey; tame: The horse was difficult to break.
v.
intr.
To become separated into pieces or fragments.
To become cracked or split.
To become fractured: His arm broke from the fall.
To become unusable or inoperative: The television broke.
To give way; collapse: The scaffolding broke during the storm.
To burst: The blister broke.
To intrude: They broke in upon our conversation.
To filter in or penetrate: Sunlight broke into the room.
To scatter or disperse; part: The clouds broke after the storm.
Games To make the opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
Sports To separate from a clinch in boxing.
Sports To win a game on the opponent's service, as in tennis: broke twice in the first set.
To move away or escape suddenly: broke from his grip and ran off.
To come forth or begin from a state of latency; come into being or emerge: A storm was breaking over Miami. Crocuses broke from the soil.
To emerge above the surface of water.
To become known or noticed: The big story broke on Friday.
To change direction or move suddenly: The quarterback broke to the left to avoid a tackler.
Baseball To curve near or over the plate: The pitch broke away from the batter.
To change suddenly from one tone quality or musical register to another: His voice broke into a falsetto.
Linguistics To undergo breaking.
To change to a gait different from the one set. Used of a horse.
To interrupt or cease an activity: We'll break for coffee at ten.
To discontinue an association, an agreement, or a relationship: The partners broke over a financial matter. One hates to break with an old friend.
To diminish or discontinue abruptly: The fever is breaking.
To diminish in or lose physical or spiritual strength; weaken or succumb: Their good cheer broke after repeated setbacks.
To decrease sharply in value or quantity: Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs.
To come to an end: The cold spell broke yesterday.
To collapse or crash into surf or spray: waves that were breaking along the shore.
Informal To take place or happen; proceed: Things have been breaking well for them.
To engage in breaking; break dance.
n.
The act or an occurrence of breaking.
The result of breaking, as a crack, separation, or opening: a break in the clouds.
The beginning or emergence of something: the break of day
A sudden movement; a dash: The dog made a break toward the open field.
An escape: a prison break.
An interruption or a disruption in continuity or regularity: television programming without commercial breaks.
A pause or interval, as from work: a coffee break.
A sudden or marked change: a break in the weather.
A violation: a security break.
An often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck: finally got the big break in life.
Informal
An allowance or indulgence; accommodating treatment: The boss gave me a break because I'd been sick.
A favorable price or reduction: a tax break for charitable contributions.
The space between two paragraphs.
A series of three dots ( . . . ) used to indicate an omission in a text.
The place where a word is or should be divided at the end of a line.
The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.
The change itself.
A solo jazz cadenza that is played during the pause between the regular phrases or choruses of a melody or that serves as an introduction to a more extended solo.
A fast break.
A rush toward the goal, as in hockey, by offense players in control of the puck or ball, often against fewer defenders: a three-on-one break.
The separation after a clinch in boxing.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
A severing of ties: made a break with the past; a break between the two families.
Informal A faux pas.
A sudden decline in prices.
A caesura.
Printing
The space between two paragraphs.
A series of three dots ( . . . ) used to indicate an omission in a text.
The place where a word is or should be divided at the end of a line.
The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.
The change itself.
A solo jazz cadenza that is played during the pause between the regular phrases or choruses of a melody or that serves as an introduction to a more extended solo.
A fast break.
A rush toward the goal, as in hockey, by offense players in control of the puck or ball, often against fewer defenders: a three-on-one break.
The separation after a clinch in boxing.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
Electricity Interruption of a flow of current.
Geology A marked change in topography such as a fault or deep valley.
Nautical The point of discontinuity between two levels on the deck of a ship.
Music
The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.
The change itself.
A solo jazz cadenza that is played during the pause between the regular phrases or choruses of a melody or that serves as an introduction to a more extended solo.
A fast break.
A rush toward the goal, as in hockey, by offense players in control of the puck or ball, often against fewer defenders: a three-on-one break.
The separation after a clinch in boxing.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
A change in a horse's gait to one different from that set by the rider.
Sports The swerving of a ball from a straight path of flight, as in baseball or cricket.
Sports The beginning of a race.
Sports
A fast break.
A rush toward the goal, as in hockey, by offense players in control of the puck or ball, often against fewer defenders: a three-on-one break.
The separation after a clinch in boxing.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
Games The opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
Games A run or unbroken series of successful shots, as in billiards or croquet.
Sports & Games Failure to score a strike or a spare in a given bowling frame.
Sports A service break.
also brake A high horse-drawn carriage with four wheels.
Break dancing.
To separate or detach oneself, as from a group.
To move rapidly away from or ahead of a group: The cyclist broke away from the pack.
To discontinue customary practice.
To cause to collapse; destroy: break down a partition; broke down our resolve.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To give up resistance; give way: prejudices that break down slowly.
To fail to function; cease to be useful, effective, or operable: The elevator broke down.
To render or become weak or ineffective: Opposition to the king's rule gradually broke down his authority.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To decompose or cause to decompose chemically.
Electricity To undergo a breakdown.
To train or adapt for a purpose.
To loosen or soften with use: break in new shoes.
To enter premises forcibly or illegally: a prowler who was trying to break in.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To begin an activity or undertaking: The Senator broke in during the war years.
To interrupt: "No one would have dared to break into his abstraction"(Alan Paton).
To begin suddenly: The horse broke into a wild gallop. The child broke into a flood of tears.
To enter (a field of activity): broke into broadcast journalism at an early age.
To separate or become separated, as by twisting or tearing.
To stop suddenly, as in speaking.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To become affected with a skin eruption, such as pimples.
To develop suddenly and forcefully: Fighting broke out in the prison cells.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To emerge or escape.
To be separable or classifiable into categories, as data.
To isolate (information) from a large body of data.
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To scatter; disperse: The crowd broke up after the game.
To cease to function or cause to stop functioning as an organized unit or group: His jazz band broke up. The new CEO broke up the corporation.
To bring or come to an end: Guards broke up the fight. They argued, and their friendship broke up.
Informal To burst or cause to burst into laughter.
Phrasal Verb(s): break away
To separate or detach oneself, as from a group.
To move rapidly away from or ahead of a group: The cyclist broke away from the pack.
To discontinue customary practice.
break down
To cause to collapse; destroy: break down a partition; broke down our resolve.
To become or cause to become distressed or upset.
To have a physical or mental collapse.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To give up resistance; give way: prejudices that break down slowly.
To fail to function; cease to be useful, effective, or operable: The elevator broke down.
To render or become weak or ineffective: Opposition to the king's rule gradually broke down his authority.
To divide into or consider in parts; analyze.
To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
To decompose or cause to decompose chemically.
Electricity To undergo a breakdown.
break in
To train or adapt for a purpose.
To loosen or soften with use: break in new shoes.
To enter premises forcibly or illegally: a prowler who was trying to break in.
To interrupt a conversation or discussion.
To intrude.
To begin an activity or undertaking: The Senator broke in during the war years.
break into
To interrupt: "No one would have dared to break into his abstraction"(Alan Paton).
To begin suddenly: The horse broke into a wild gallop. The child broke into a flood of tears.
To enter (a field of activity): broke into broadcast journalism at an early age.
break off
To separate or become separated, as by twisting or tearing.
To stop suddenly, as in speaking.
To discontinue (a relationship).
To cease to be friendly.
break out
To become affected with a skin eruption, such as pimples.
To develop suddenly and forcefully: Fighting broke out in the prison cells.
To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles!
To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
To emerge or escape.
To be separable or classifiable into categories, as data.
To isolate (information) from a large body of data.
break throughTo make a sudden, quick advance, as through an obstruction. break up
To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up.
To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
To scatter; disperse: The crowd broke up after the game.
To cease to function or cause to stop functioning as an organized unit or group: His jazz band broke up. The new CEO broke up the corporation.
To bring or come to an end: Guards broke up the fight. They argued, and their friendship broke up.
Informal To burst or cause to burst into laughter.
Idiom(s):
break a legUsed to wish someone, such as an actor, success in a performance.
Idiom(s):
break breadTo eat together.
Idiom(s):
break campTo pack up equipment and leave a campsite.
Idiom(s):
break coverTo emerge from a protected location or hiding place: The platoon broke cover and headed down the road.
Idiom(s):
break evenTo gain an amount equal to that invested, as in a commercial venture.
Idiom(s):
break ground
To begin a new construction project.
To advance beyond previous achievements.
Idiom(s):
break new groundTo advance beyond previous achievements: broke new ground in the field of computers.
Idiom(s):
break (one's) neckTo make the utmost possible effort.
Idiom(s):
break rank/ranks
To fall into disorder, as a formation of soldiers.
To fail to conform to a prevailing or expected pattern or order: "Architectural experts have criticized the plaza in the past because it breaks rank with the distinctive façades of neighboring Fifth Avenue blocks, whose buildings are flush with the sidewalk"(Sharon Churcher).
Idiom(s):
break (someone's) heartTo disappoint or dispirit someone severely.
Idiom(s):
break the bankTo require more money than is available.
Idiom(s):
break the ice
To make a start.
To relax a tense or unduly formal atmosphere or social situation.
Idiom(s):
break windTo expel intestinal gas.
[Middle English breken, from Old English brecan; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to separate or cause to separate into parts or pieces, either by the sudden application of force or by the pressure of internal stress. Break is the most general: The window was broken by vandals. I broke my arm when I fell. That delicate ornament will break easily. To crack is to break, often with a sharp snapping sound, without dividing into parts: I cracked the coffeepot, but it didn't leak. The building's foundation cracked during the earthquake. Fracture applies to a break or crack in a rigid body: She fractured her skull in the accident. Burst implies a sudden coming apart, especially from internal pressure, and the dispersion of contents: The child burst the balloon with a pin. Split refers to a division longitudinally or with the grain: She split the log with an ax. Splinter implies splitting into long, thin, sharp pieces: Repeated blows splintered the door. To shatter is to break into many scattered pieces: The bullet shattered the mirror upon impact. Smash stresses force of blow or impact and suggests complete destruction: He angrily smashed the vase against the wall. See Also Synonyms at demote, opportunity.
c.1150, from O.Fr. covrir, from L.L. coperire, from L. cooperire "to cover over," from com- intens. prefix + operire "to close, cover" (see weir). Military sense is from 1687; newspaper sense first recorded 1893; use in football dates from 1907. Betting sense is 1857. As a euphemism for "copulation of horses" it dates from 1535. Meaning "recording of a song already recorded by another" is 1966. Cover-up is from 1927. Cover girl is U.S. slang from 1915, shortening of magazine-cover girl.
Main Entry: 2cover Function: noun : purchase of goods in substitution for those originally contracted for when the seller fails to fulfill the contract cover and damages for nondelivery —Uniform Commercial Code>; also: the substituted goods NOTE: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, when a seller does not perform on a contract, the buyer has the option of covering, with the seller paying the difference between the cost of the cover and the original contract price, or seeking damages for nonperformance. Reselling is the seller's comparable remedy when a buyer does not perform under a contract.
Suddenly emerge from a hiding place, as in The shots distracted our pursuers long enough so that we could break cover and make a run for it. This term originally alluded to animals being hunted, a frequent usage in the 16th century. Now that hunting is a less common pursuit, it is used for human beings.
[kuhv-er] 
