First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1covert
adjective co·vert \ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt, kō-ˈ; ˈkə-vərt\
: made, shown, or done in a way that is not easily seen or noticed : secret or hidden
Full Definition of COVERT
1
: not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled <a covert alliance>
See covert defined for English-language learners
See covert defined for kids
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Origin of COVERT
Middle English, from Anglo-French, past participle of coverir to cover
Related to COVERT
Synonym Discussion of COVERT
secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive <met at a secret location>. covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared <covert intelligence operations>. stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing <the stealthy step of a burglar>. furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness <lovers exchanging furtive glances>. clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered <a clandestine meeting of conspirators>. surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority <the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons>. underhanded stresses fraud or deception <an underhanded trick>.
Rhymes with COVERT
advert, alert, assert, avert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, desert, dessert, dissert, divert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pervert, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt
2covert
noun co·vert \ˈkə-vərt, ˈkō-vərt also ˈkə-vər\
Definition of COVERT
1
2
: a feather covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird — see wing illustration
3
: a firm durable twilled sometimes waterproofed cloth usually of mixed-color yarns
First Known Use of COVERT
14th century
Related to COVERT
- Synonyms
- concealment, hideout, den, hermitage, hideaway, hidey-hole (or hidy-hole), lair, nest
COVERT Defined for Kids
1covert
adjective co·vert \ˈkəv-ərt, ˈkō-vərt\
Definition of COVERT for Kids
: made or done secretly <a covert glance> <covert military operations>
— co·vert·ly adverb
2covert
noun
Definition of COVERT for Kids
1
: a hiding place (as a thicket that gives shelter to game animals)
2
: one of the small feathers around the bottom of the quills on the wings and tail of a bird
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