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 of cove

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 facility had receded grout between the floor tiles next to the cove base by the dish machine. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado updated January 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Although Bullhead City is a smaller fishing port, the waters still have high fish activity and coves for secluded fishing on the Colorado River. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat. —Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Just beyond is the marshmallow-white mile-long cove of Maundays Bay, lapped by the bluest water. —Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

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

1817, 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