put over an object to protect it or keep it warm
6 The cover of a book or magazine is its outside.
7 Cover is trees, rocks or other places where you can shelter or hide. • When it started raining they ran for cover.
coverage
NOUN The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it. • There was complete coverage of the Wimbledon finals on television.
cow cows
NOUN a large female mammal kept on farms for its milk and meat
coward cowards
NOUN a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous situations
cowardly ADJECTIVE cowardice NOUN
cowboy cowboys
NOUN a man employed to look after cattle in America
coy coyer, coyest
ADJECTIVE If someone behaves in a coy way, they pretend to be shy and modest.
crab crabs
NOUN a crustacean with four pairs of legs, two claws, and a flat, round body covered by a shell
crack cracks, cracking, cracked
VERB 1 If something cracks, or if something cracks it, it becomes damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.
2 If you crack a joke, you tell it.
3 If you crack a problem or code, you solve it.
NOUN 4 one of the lines appearing on something when it cracks
5 a narrow gap • My ring fell into a crack in the pavement.
cracker crackers
NOUN 1 a thin, crisp biscuit that is often eaten with cheese
2 a paper-covered tube that pulls apart with a bang, and usually has a toy and paper hat inside
crackle crackles, crackling, crackled
VERB 1 something crackles, it makes a series of short sharp sounds • The bonfire started to crackle as the flames grew higher.
NOUN 2 a short sharp sound
cradle cradles, cradling, cradled
NOUN 1 a box-shaped bed for a baby
VERB 2 If you cradle something in your arms or hands, you hold it there carefully.
craft crafts
NOUN 1 an activity that needs skill with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery
2 a boat, plane or spacecraft
craftsman or craftswoman craftsmen or craftswomen
NOUN a person who makes things skilfully with their hands
craftsmanship NOUN
crafty craftier, craftiest
ADJECTIVE Crafty people get what they want by tricking other people in a clever way.
SYNONYMS: cunning, wily
crag crags
NOUN a steep, rugged rock or peak
cram crams, cramming, crammed
VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.
cramp cramps
NOUN pain caused when muscles contract
cramped
ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.
crane cranes, craning, craned
NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air
2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs
VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.
crash crashes, crashing, crashed
NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged
2 a sudden, loud noise
VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.
crate crates
NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things
crater craters
NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.
[from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]
crave craves, craving, craved
VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.
craving NOUN
crawl crawls, crawling, crawled
VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.
2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.
crayon crayons
NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax
craze crazes
NOUN something that is very popular for a short time
crazy crazier, craziest
ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish
2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.
creak creaks, creaking, creaked
VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.
NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise
creaky ADJECTIVE
cream creams
NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk
2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it
ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white
