cove

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkōv 

1

: a recessed place : concavity: such as

a

: an architectural member with a concave cross section

b

: a trough for concealed lighting at the upper part of a wall

2

: a small sheltered inlet or bay

3

a

: a deep recess or small valley in the side of a mountain

b

: a level area sheltered by hills or mountains

cove

2 of 3

verb

coved; coving

transitive verb

: to make in a hollow concave form

cove

3 of 3

noun (2)

British, old-fashioned

: man, fellow

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• arm
• bay
• bight
• creek [chiefly British]
• embayment
• estuary
• firth
• fjord
• fiord
• gulf
• inlet
• loch [Scottish]

Examples of cove in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a secluded cove that smugglers once used

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Cove Eleuthera, Bahamas A natural zen destination, nestled between two white sand coves on the secluded island of Eleuthera, The Cove is an idyllic place for yogis. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

What to expect: Birthplace of Herodotus and known as Halicarnassus in ancient times, the rotund peninsula is crowned with jagged edges, making for intimate coves and breathtaking vistas. —Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 8 Sep. 2024

But the inn itself is a destination, too, with 11 guest accommodations set along the rugged Elk coastline and access to a private cove. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2024

Rachel Levin Updated Jul 24, 2024 Destinations The 15 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World Our farthest-roaming travel writer reveals her favorite stretches of sand, from a sheltered cove in Greece to a stunning outpost in North Carolina. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, den, from Old English cofa; akin to Old High German chubisi hut

Noun (2)

Romani kova thing, person

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1756, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cove

noun

ˈkōv

1

: a small sheltered inlet or bay

2

: a level area sheltered by hills or mountains