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cowhide
something that hides or keeps something secret: Their travel business is just a cover for a drug-smuggling operation. 6 [C] tech a place for one person set at a table with a knife, fork etc 7 [U] tech the plant life of an area 8 under plain/ separate cover in a plain/separate envelope → see also FIRST DAY COVER
cover-age /'kʌvəɪdʒ; ˋkʌvəɪdʒ/ n [U] 1 the amount of time and space given by television, a newspaper etc to a particular subject or event: The wedding got massive media coverage. | The President's visit got blanket coverage. (=coverage in newspapers, on the radio, on television etc) 2 the amount of protection given by insurance; risks covered by insurance
cov-er·alls /'kʌvərɔːlz; ˋkʌvəˌɔlz/ n [P] AmE A BOILER SUIT
'cover charge n a charge made by a restaurant in addition to the cost of the food and drinks or the cost of service
'covered ,wagon n a large horse-drawn vehicle with rounded cloth-covered top, in which settlers crossed North America in the WILD WEST
'cover girl n a young attractive woman whose photograph is on the cover of a magazine: her cover girl looks
cov-er-ing /'kʌvərɪŋ; ˋkʌvərɪŋ/ n something that covers or hides: a light covering of snow
,covering 'letter BrE || 'cover ,letter AmE — n a letter or note containing an explanation or additional information, sent with a parcel or another letter → compare COMPLIMENT SLIP
cov-er·let /'kʌvəlt; ˋkʌvəlɪt/ n a BEDSPREAD
'cover note n especially BrE a document giving insurance cover to someone while their insurance POLICY is being prepared
'cover ,price n [C, usually singular] the price printed on the front of a book, magazine etc: 10p of the cover price goes directly to charity.
'cover ,story n a story to go with the picture on the cover of a magazine
cov-ert¹ /'kʌvət; 'kəʊvɜːt ||'koʊvɜrt; ˋkʌvɚt/ adj secret or hidden; not openly shown or admitted: covert dislike | covert activity by the CIA to undermine their government → opposite OVERT
—~ly adv
cov-ert² /'kʌvət ||-ɜːt; ˋkʌvɚt/ n a thick growth of bushes and small trees in which animals can hide
'cover-up n [for] an attempt to prevent something dishonourable or criminal from becoming publicly known → see also COVER UP
cov-et /'kʌvɪt; ˋkʌvɪt/ v [T] especially bibl or humor to desire eagerly (especially something belonging to another person): He won the coveted Lawson Award. (=which everyone wants to win)
cov-et-ous /'kʌvɪtəs; ˋkʌvɪtəs/ adj derog too eager for wealth or property or for someone else's possessions —~ly adv
cov-et-ous-ness /'kʌvɪtəsnɪs; ˋkʌvɪtəsnɪs/ n [U] the state of being covetous. Covetousness is one of the SEVEN DEADLY SINS.
cov·ey /'kʌvi; ˋkʌvi/ n a small group of PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, or other birds
cow¹ /kaʊ; kaʊ/ n 1 a fully grown female type of cattle, kept on farms, especially to provide milk. In stories, cows are often named Daisy or Buttercup: Bring the cows in for milking. | A young cow is called a calf. | a herd of 25 cows → see also FRIESIAN, JERSEY, see MEAT ((USAGE)), MOO 2 the female of certain other large sea and land animals: a cow elephant → compare BULL, HEIFER 3 derog slang a woman: You silly cow! 4 have a cow infml humor, especially AmE to react to something by becoming very excited, angry, or emotional, and to express your emotions, for example by shouting: My mom had a cow last night because we didn't come home until midnight. | Okay, okay! Don't have a cow! 5 How now, brown cow? a phrase used in Britain in the past to teach people to speak in a socially acceptable way, rather than with a regional ACCENT 6 till the cows come home infml for a very long time, possibly for ever: You can sit there till the cows come home, but I don't think she'll turn up. → see also SACRED COW
cow v [T] to bring under control by violence or threats: The people were cowed by the execution of their leaders.
Cow & Gate /kaʊ/ a US company that produces food and milk products for babies
cow·ard /'kaʊəd ||-ərd; ˋkaʊɚd/ n derog a person who is afraid to face
danger, pain, or hardship; a person who shows fear in a dishonourable way: I'm afraid I'm something of a coward when it comes to snakes. | You snivelling little coward!
CULTURAL NOTE Cowards are connected with the colour yellow, and people sometimes say that a coward is 'yellow' or 'yellow-bellied'.
Coward, Sir No·el /'nəʊəl/ (1898–1973) a British actor, singer, and writer of songs and plays, known especially for his clever and humorous plays, such as Private Lives and Blithe Spirit, and his amusing song Mad Dogs and Englishmen
cow·ard·ice /'kaʊədlɪs ||-ər-/ also cow·ard·li·ness /'kaʊədlɪnɪs ||-ɚ-/ n [U] derog lack of courage: He was accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy.
cow·ard·ly /'kaʊədli ||-ər-/ adj derog typical of a coward; showing a dishonourable lack of courage: cowardly behaviour
cow·bell /'kaʊbel/ n a bell hung from the neck of a cow so that the cow can be easily found
cow·boy /'kaʊbɔɪ/ n 1 also cowhand, cowpoke infml a person employed to look after cattle, especially on horseback in North America → see also WESTERN, COWBOYS AND INDIANS
CULTURAL NOTE Americans think of cowboys as honest, independent, and strong men from the time when few people lived in the western part of the US. This romantic view of the American cowboy comes more from films and books than from real life. Cowboys still take care of cattle in the US, but they are now more likely to use OFF-ROAD VEHICLES than to ride a horse. People still think of cowboys as wearing blue JEANS, cowboy boots, and a special large hat called a STETSON. In the US, people sometimes go on VACATIONS to a DUDE RANCH where they do the work of a cowboy. Singers of COUNTRY MUSIC often dress like cowboys.
2 BrE slang someone who is careless and dishonest in business: a firm of cowboy builders
'cowboy boots n [pl] high leather boots that are popular in the US. They have pointed toes, fairly high heels, are decorated with stitching, and are typically worn by COWBOYS and COUNTRY and WESTERN singers.
'cowboy film BrE || 'cowboy movie AmE — n infml a WESTERN
'cowboy hat n a STETSON
cow·catch·er /'kaʊˌkætər/ n a strong metal frame on the front of a railway engine used to push objects off the track
Cow·ell, Simon /'kaʊəl/ (1959– ) a British music and television PRODUCER, who had the idea for the popular television programmes Pop Idol in Britain, and American Idol in the US. He also acted as a judge for these programmes and for World Idol. He is known for saying cruel things to the people who sing in the competitions, so that he is sometimes called Mr Nasty or Judge Dread. He is also known for saying, 'I don't mean to be rude, but...' just before saying something rude.
cow·er /'kaʊər/ v [I(DOWN)] to bend low and move back because of fear or shame; CRINGE: The dog cowered when its master shouted at it. | We found the kidnapped children cowering in a corner.
Cowes /kaʊz/ an English holiday town and sailing centre on the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. Every year there is a REGATTA (=series of boat races) there, known as Cowes Week, which a lot of rich and fashionable people attend.
cow·girl /'kaʊgɜːl ||-gɜːl/ n a female person employed to look after cattle, especially on horseback in North America
cow·hand /'kaʊhænd/ n a person employed to look after cattle; a COWBOY, cowgirl, or cowherd
cow·herd /'kaʊhɜːd ||-hɜːrd/ n a person employed to look after cows and milk them
cow·hide /'kaʊhaɪd/ n [C,U] (a) skin of a cow, with or without the hair on it