covering

covering — noun

1. something placed over an object or surface for protection, concealment, or decor

1.nounB1
Definition

something placed over an object or surface for protection, concealment, or decoration — for example, a plastic sheet over a device, fabric over furniture, or straw over garden beds.

Example

A thick covering of snow blanketed the garden after the winter storm.

covering of + [material]: snow, dust, ice

The old wooden chair had a faded fabric covering that was torn at the edges.

Common collocations
  • covering of + material
  • plastic covering
  • fabric covering
  • protective covering
  • light covering
  • thick covering
  • outer covering
Synonyms
  • layer

    more general; a covering is a type of layer, but layers can be internal (e.g., a layer of cake)

  • coating

    a thin covering of a substance spread over a surface, such as paint or chocolate

  • blanket

    a thick, complete covering that hides what is beneath, common in metaphors (a blanket of fog)

  • wrap

    a covering that is folded or wound around something, like a gift wrap

Grammar Patterns

a covering of + [material]

[material] covering

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' and a noun describing the material: a covering of snow / ice / dust / straw. This sense is both countable (a covering) and uncountable (covering provides protection). Distinguish from 'cover' — a book has a cover (the outer binding), not a covering.

Common Mistakes

The book has a hard covering.
The book has a hard cover.
Books have covers, not coverings. Use 'covering' for protective layers on objects, not for the outer binding of publications.

covering — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something placed over a surface, but they differ in thickness and purpose. 'Layer' is the most general term — one of several flat levels of something, like a layer of paint or a layer of clothing. 'Covering' specifically suggests protection, concealment, or decoration, and is often a named material (a plastic covering, a fabric covering). 'Coating' refers to a thin layer of a substance spread onto a surface, such as chocolate coating on a biscuit or a coating of varnish on wood. 'Blanket' implies a thick, complete covering that hides what is beneath, and is frequently used metaphorically (a blanket of snow, a blanket of fog). For example, you spread a covering of straw over plants, but you apply a coating of paint to a wall.

layer ↗coatingblanket ↗sheet

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • under a covering of
  • with a covering of
  • without a covering

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the verb 'cover', which entered English through Old French 'covrir' (to cover, conceal), from Latin 'cooperire' (to cover completely), formed from 'com-' (completely) plus 'operire' (to close, cover). The suffix '-ing' creates a noun meaning 'something that covers' and an adjective meaning 'used for covering'. The adjective use in phrases like 'covering letter' dates back to the 18th century, when such letters were sent to 'cover' or accompany other documents.