Library / English Dictionary

COVERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The work of applying something

Example:

the surface was ready for a coating of paint

Synonyms:

application; coating; covering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("covering" is a kind of...):

manual labor; manual labour (labor done with the hands)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "covering"):

facing; lining (providing something with a surface of a different material)

waxing (the application of wax to a surface)

tiling (the application of tiles to cover a surface)

scumble (the application of very thin coat of color over the surface of a picture)

plating (the application of a thin coat of metal (as by electrolysis))

daubing; plastering (the application of plaster)

paperhanging; papering (the application of wallpaper)

tinning (the application of a thin layer of soft solder to the ends of wires before soldering them)

tin-plating; tinning (the application of a protective layer of tin)

spraying (the application of a liquid in the form of small particles ejected from a sprayer)

painting (the act of applying paint to a surface)

pavage; paving (the act of applying paving materials to an area)

lubrication (an application of a lubricant to something)

galvanisation; galvanization (either the work of covering with metal by the use of a galvanic current or the coating of iron with zinc to protect it from rusting)

foliation (the work of coating glass with metal foil)

fumigation (the application of a gas or smoke to something for the purpose of disinfecting it)

anointing; anointment (the act of applying oil or an oily liquid)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of protecting something by covering it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("covering" is a kind of...):

protection (the activity of protecting someone or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "covering"):

dressing; grooming (the activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes)

Derivation:

cover (clothe, as if for protection from the elements)

cover (spread over a surface to conceal or protect)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it

Example:

the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft

Synonyms:

cover; covering; masking; screening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("covering" is a kind of...):

concealing; concealment; hiding (the activity of keeping something secret)

Derivation:

cover (spread over a surface to conceal or protect)

cover (hide from view or knowledge)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("covering" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "covering"):

footgear; footwear (covering for a person's feet)

exhaust hood; hood (metal covering leading to a vent that exhausts smoke or fumes)

hood ((falconry) a leather covering for a hawk's head)

imbrication; lapping; overlapping (covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles))

instep (the part of a shoe or stocking that covers the arch of the foot)

mask (a covering to disguise or conceal the face)

matting (a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp))

mercy seat (the golden covering of the ark of the covenant)

paddle-box; paddle box (a wooden covering for the upper part of a paddlewheel)

planking ((nautical) a covering or flooring constructed of planks (as on a ship))

protection; protective cover; protective covering (a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury)

concealment; cover; covert; screen (a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something)

swathing (cloth coverings wrapped around something (as a wound or a baby))

thumb (the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb)

toe (the part of footwear that provides a covering for the toes)

cover; top (covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container))

upholstery (covering (padding and springs and webbing and fabric) on a piece of furniture)

wrap; wrapper; wrapping (the covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped)

artificial skin (a synthetic covering with two layers used experimentally to treat burn victims)

bootleg (the part of a boot above the instep)

bubble (a dome-shaped covering made of transparent glass or plastic)

canopy (the transparent covering of an aircraft cockpit)

casing (the outermost covering of a pneumatic tire)

chafing gear (covering (usually rope or canvas) of a line or spar to protect it from friction)

cloak (anything that covers or conceals)

cloth covering (a covering made of cloth)

article of clothing; clothing; habiliment; vesture; wear; wearable (a covering designed to be worn on a person's body)

coat; coating (a thin layer covering something)

cover plate (covering consisting of a plate used to cover over or close in a chamber or receptacle)

drape (a sterile covering arranged over a patient's body during a medical examination or during surgery in order to reduce the possibility of contamination)

earmuff (either of a pair of ear coverings (usually connected by a headband) that are worn to keep the ears warm in cold weather)

fig leaf (a covering consisting of anything intended to conceal something regarded as shameful)

finger (one of the parts of a glove that provides covering for a finger or thumb)

flap (any broad thin and limber covering attached at one edge; hangs loose or projects freely)

floor cover; floor covering (a covering for a floor)

folder (covering that is folded over to protect the contents)

Derivation:

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A natural object that covers or envelops

Example:

the fox was flushed from its cover

Synonyms:

cover; covering; natural covering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("covering" is a kind of...):

natural object (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "covering"):

shell (a rigid covering that envelops an object)

eggshell; shell (the exterior covering of a bird's egg)

skim (a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid)

slough (any outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake))

snowcap (a covering of snow (as on a mountain peak))

vesture (something that covers or cloaks like a garment)

peridium (outer layer of the spore-bearing organ in many fungi)

pericarp; seed vessel (the ripened and variously modified walls of a plant ovary)

chlamys; floral envelope; perianth; perigone; perigonium (collective term for the outer parts of a flower consisting of the calyx and corolla and enclosing the stamens and pistils)

sac; theca (a case or sheath especially a pollen sac or moss capsule)

indusium (a membrane enclosing and protecting the developing spores especially that covering the sori of a fern)

bark (tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants)

roof (the inner top surface of a covered area or hollow space)

indument; indumentum (a covering of fine hairs (or sometimes scales) as on a leaf or insect)

cap; hood (a protective covering that is part of a plant)

envelope (a natural covering (as by a fluid))

crust; encrustation; incrustation (a hard outer layer that covers something)

blanket; mantle (anything that covers)

integument (an outer protective covering such as the skin of an animal or a cuticle or seed coat or rind or shell)

case; sheath (an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part)

body covering (any covering for the body or a body part)

test (a hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins)

shell (the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod)

scale (a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals)

Derivation:

cover (form a cover over)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

-ing form of the verb cover

Credits

 Context examples: 

Cerealia Facula, in the center of the crater, consists of bright material covering a 6-mile-wide (10-kilometer-wide) pit, within which sits a small dome.

(Bright Areas on Ceres Suggest Geologic Activity, NASA)

As they developed, U. mongoliensis seeds were protected inside a tough, resinous, umbrella-like outer covering, which stayed almost completely closed, opening only to release the seeds.

(Paleontologists find fossil relative of Ginkgo biloba, NSF)

Upcoming images will offer even more information, as the comet is quickly covering more space in OSIRIS' field of view.

(Rosetta closing in on comet, NASA)

"My darling child!" she cried, folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Planets in Capricorn emphasize the strength of your bones, teeth, skin, and eye health, so make sure to get exams covering these areas on your list.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

As McConkey told VOA, The husk of the fruit — it's like the outer covering of the fruit — has become very thick, and it's that outer covering that deer eat.

(Thai Elephants Help Spread Jungle Fruit's Seeds, Sadie Witkowski/VOA)

Exposing the viruses to vesicles reduced the appearance of surface molecules on the virus’ outer covering, which it needs to attach to cells.

(Vesicles released by bacteria may reduce the spread of HIV in human tissue, National Institutes of Health)

But every decade or so, something unpredictable happens: A series of runaway storms breaks out, covering the entire planet in a dusty haze.

(Global Storms on Mars Launch Dust Towers Into the Sky, NASA)

A solid, swollen stem whose scales have been reduced to a dry, leaf-like covering.

(Corm, Food and Drug Administration)