# cover (object)

a thing that is on top of another thing

- Computed level: L14 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: general  ·  Arena: everyday

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [matter](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-matter.substance), [boundary](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-boundary.limit), [top](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-top.upper)

**Through:** The substance is placed over a boundary so that it lies on top of something else.

**Novel properties:**
- topmost position
- protective layer
- spatial containment

## Examples
- The lid of the Apollo 11 sample container sealed moon rocks inside, preserving their vacuum exposure until opened in Houston. *(engineering)*
- Antarctica's ice sheet covers 98% of the continent, averaging 2.1 kilometers thick and resting on bedrock below sea level. *(geography)*
- The BIOS password on a Dell Latitude 5400 blocks access to firmware settings until the correct credentials are entered. *(computing)*

## Used by
- [clothing](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-clothing.apparel) (L15)
- [fur](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-fur.material) (L15)
- [protection](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-protection.security) (L16)
- [shelter](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-shelter.protection) (L15)
- [shoes](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-shoes.clothing) (L20)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-cover.object*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-cover.object.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*