covering

Everyday

1. A covering is a layer of something that lies on or over something else. tree →
2. A covering is something you use to cover or protect something, such as a sheet, lid or curtain. tree →
3. Covering (verb) means putting something over, hiding, protecting, dealing with a topic, or doing someone else's job for a while. tree →

In the lessons

In weather and nature: «a light covering of snow», «a covering of fur». At home: floor coverings (carpets, rugs), wall coverings. In school: «covering a topic» means teaching it; a «cover teacher» is covering for someone who is away. Phrases: «a thin covering», «covering for someone» (also: hiding someone's mistake), «covering up».

Examples

• There was a light covering of snow on the playground. tree →
• Animals in the Arctic have a thick covering of fur. tree →
• Put a covering over the paint pots so they don't dry out. tree →
• Mr Lee is covering our class while Mrs Day is ill. tree →
• We are covering fractions this week. tree →
• The skin is the body's covering. tree →
• Never keep covering for a friend who is in danger — tell an adult. tree →
• Covering their heads with their blankets, they sat trembling with fear. tree →

Note

Countable as a noun: coverings. «Covering for» someone can be kind (doing their job) or dishonest (hiding what they did) — the sentence tells you which. «Cover-up» is hiding the truth.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it can be the layers of skins and cloth over the Tabernacle, or a garment such as a cloak with fringes. In the poets it also means cover for the poor, or what hides things, and God can cover the heavens with blackness.

Interpretation. The fringes on a four-cornered garment became the tzitzit, which tradition says remind Jews of the commandments. Job's saying that Destruction has no covering is read as nothing being hidden from God.

Examples

• And every open vessel, which hath no covering close-bound upon it, is unclean. (Torah NUM.19.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt make thee twisted cords upon the four corners of thy covering, wherewith thou coverest thyself. (Torah DEU.22.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; (Torah EXO.35.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• The nether-world is naked before Him, and Destruction hath no covering. (Writings JOB.26.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. (Prophets ISA.50.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. (Writings JOB.24.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable as a noun: coverings. «Covering for» someone can be kind (doing their job) or dishonest (hiding what they did) — the sentence tells you which. «Cover-up» is hiding the truth.