alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
a
: a small recessed section of a room : nook
b
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche
2
alcoved adjective

Examples of alcove in a Sentence

a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall
Recent Examples on the Web Western toads and tree frogs thrive in the spring water that seeps from the base of an arched alcove fortified with concrete and then into a murky pond where carp cruise beneath a battered life-size rubber duck floating upside down. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The expansive pool area, in a unique cross shape, offers plenty of loungers and umbrellas, plus some seating alcoves with chairs. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 The latter also features inconspicuous alcoves with chairs that provide a nice place to perch. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Herrero pointed to an alcove in the canyon wall, where a lush hanging garden grew above a sort of natural amphitheater, hidden from the park entrance. Jack Herrera, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024 There’s also a powder room and a guest suite that’s complete with an alcove seating area and ensuite bath. Mark David, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2023 Inside, the exhibition space is one large room, about 20 feet wide by 80 feet long, with display walls, miniature storefronts and alcoves set out along a meandering path. Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 Herrero and his girlfriend did just that, pushing through salt brush to make their way into a rocky alcove. Jack Herrera, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024 These resourceful people used overhanging cliffs and shallow alcoves carved from the limestone walls to build dwellings while farming flat terraces on the canyon rim. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alcove.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qubba the arch

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of alcove was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near alcove

Cite this Entry

“Alcove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcove. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alcove

noun
al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
: a small section of a room set back from the rest of it
2
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche

More from Merriam-Webster on alcove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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