This is the 3550th most frequent Japanese word.
覆い
Cover; covering.
In this sentence, "覆い" is used as a noun referring to a physical cover (the cloth) that is placed over the table.
テーブルには美しい布の覆いが掛けられている。
There is a beautiful cloth cover on the table.
Here, "覆い" is part of the verb phrase "覆い尽くす" (to cover entirely), demonstrating its use in describing the act of full covering.
木の葉は地面を覆い尽くしている。
Leaves of the tree entirely cover the ground.
In this sentence, "覆い" is implied as part of the covering action of the clouds over the sky, illustrating a metaphorical use in a natural phenomenon.