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)

• bay
• estuary

Examples of cove in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a secluded cove that smugglers once used

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025

According to Shapiro, the best way to experience the coast, which is full of hidden coves and caves, is to go for a boat ride with a local captain who knows the area well. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025

That jungle trail to the cove became our sunset ritual, tugging on Tarzan vines and sharing tales of underwater adventures. —Marlise Kast-Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025

Down in the cove, there was a world within the seaweed and pine, with valleys of cones and pebbles. —Aysegül Savas, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025

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

Rhymes for cove

• clove
• drove
• rove
• shrove
• stove
• strove
• throve
• trove
• wove
• alcove
• mangrove

Kids Definition

cove

noun

ˈkōv

1

: a small sheltered inlet or bay

2

: a level area sheltered by hills or mountains