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

Boats depart from here for island tours, including to the famous Blue Grotto and other smaller grottoes and coves. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2024

There was yet more to see—wild horses and noodle-nosed saiga antelope, coves of turquoise water filled with shipwrecks and sea snakes, and camel caravans on the Turkman border. —J.r. Patterson, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2024

Today, holiday-makers love its mild climate, dramatic coastlines, and secret coves. —Corinne Fowler / Made By History, TIME, 17 June 2024

Take in the limestone rock formations, rugged bluffs, and coves dotted with seals and sea lions while peering out into deep blue waters, keeping an eye out for spouting whales. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 17 June 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