The term "Cover" is incredibly versatile, referring to a wide range of concepts across various fields. Most commonly, it denotes the protective or decorative outer layer of physical items, such as book, magazine, and album covers, or even smartphone covers. In music, a significant meaning is a cover version, which is a new recording of a previously released song; this concept has inspired numerous albums titled "Covers" by artists like Placebo (2003) and Cat Power (2022), or "Covered" by Macy Gray (2012).
Beyond arts and packaging, "cover" extends to specific business and legal terms, like a cover charge or a remedy for contract breach, and strategies for deception and concealment used by operatives. It also defines complex concepts in mathematics (e.g., topological cover), science (like land cover), military tactics (such as suppressive fire or uniform hats), and sports betting, showcasing its diverse applications.