coverage

From Middle English coverage, equivalent to cover +‎ -age.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkʌv.(ə)ɹ.ɪdʒ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

coverage (countable and uncountable, plural coverages)

1. An amount by which something or someone is covered.

   Don't go to lunch if we don't have enough coverage for the help-desk phones.

   Before laying sod on that clay, the ground needs two inches of coverage with topsoil.

   The enemy fire is increasing – can we get some immediate coverage from those bunkers?

   There are overlapping coverages on your insurance policies.

   • 2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide‎, page 2:

     Professionally published dictionaries do not seem to have extended coverage beyond the most frequent and salient items.

2. (journalism) The amount and type of attention given to an event or topic in news media or other media.
   • 2022 November 30, Industry Insider, “Autumn Statement boost”, in RAIL, number 971, page 84:

     Through services using the Elizabeth line were increased from November 6, but this did not attract significant media coverage - mainly because it has been an operational success, […] .

3. (genetics) The average number of reads representing a given nucleotide in the reconstructed sequence.
4. The area covered by a mobile phone (cellphone) or other radio network.
   • 1932, T. V. O'Connor, “Standardized Communication Aids to Marine Navigation” in Standards Yearbook (U.S. Government Printing Office), 61:

     The primary coverage area of a station is that area throughout which the station can be received without objectionable interference from static, electrical interfering noises, or interference from other radio broadcasting stations, practically all of the time the station is in operation.

5. The signal strength, reception of a radio signal.

   Mobile phone coverage is poor in some areas.

6. (sports) Defense.