coverings
|cov-er-ings|
🇺🇸
/ˈkʌvərɪŋz/
🇬🇧
/ˈkʌvə(r)ɪŋz/
(covering)
place over to protect or hide
Etymology
'covering' ultimately comes from the verb 'cover', which entered English from Old French 'covrir' (modern French 'couvrir'), itself from Latin 'cooperire' meaning 'to cover' (from 'co-' 'with' + 'operire' 'to cover').
'cover' arrived in Middle English as forms like 'coveren' from Old French 'covrir'; the English noun/gerund-forming suffix '-ing' produced 'covering', and the plural became 'coverings'.
Originally the root idea was 'to place over or hide' and this basic sense of placing something over or protecting has remained central; over time 'covering' also acquired specialized senses (e.g., floor coverings, mathematical coverings).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'covering': materials used to cover a surface (e.g., floor coverings such as carpet or tile).
The store sells a wide range of floor coverings, from vinyl to hardwood.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
items that cover or protect objects or people (e.g., protective coverings, cloths, blankets).
Protective coverings were placed over the equipment before the storm.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
natural layers or outer parts that cover something (e.g., bark, skin, shells).
The scientist studied the coverings on different plant species.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 4
in mathematics (especially topology), collections of sets whose union contains a given set (i.e., covers of a set).
The textbook gives several examples of open coverings in topology.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/26 18:05