# covering

/ˈkəvɝɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈʌvəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/covering
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a protective layer

noun · CEFR B1

a layer of something that covers a surface to protect or hide it.

For teachers: a physical layer or object spread over another to provide protection, insulation, or concealment.

- The floor had a thick covering of dust because no one had lived there for years.
- The delicate seedlings require a light covering of mulch to protect them from the unexpected overnight frost.

### 2. the act of covering

noun · CEFR B2

the action of putting a layer over something.

For teachers: the process or action of applying a cover or spreading a substance over a surface.

- The covering of the furniture took all afternoon because we had so many chairs.
- The rapid covering of the landscape by volcanic ash made the evacuation efforts significantly more hazardous for the rescue teams.

### 3. mathematical sets

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a collection of sets that together contain all the points of another set.

For teachers: a collection of sets whose union contains a given set or space. Often used in the context of open covers in topology.

- The professor explained how to find a finite covering for the given set.
- In topology, a space is considered compact if every open covering has a finite subcollection that also covers the space.

## Examples

- A thick covering of snow hides the garden path.
- The workers applied a waterproof covering to the roof to prevent leaks during the rainy season.
- The ancient manuscript was preserved beneath a protective covering of treated leather, which shielded the delicate vellum from humidity and light damage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.