cove

¹

[kohv]

noun

1. a small indentation or recess in the shoreline of a sea, lake, or river.

2. a sheltered nook.

3. a hollow or recess in a mountain; cave; cavern.

4. a narrow pass between woods or hills.

5. a sheltered area between woods or hills.

6. Architecture.

   1. a concave surface or molding.

   2. a concave surface forming part of a ceiling at its edge so as to eliminate the usual interior angle between the wall and ceiling.

verb (used with or without object)

coved, coving 

1. to make or become a cove.

cove

²

[kohv]

noun

1. British Slang.,  a person; fellow.

2. Australian Slang.,  a manager, especially of a sheep station.

cove

¹

/ kəʊv /

noun

1. a small bay or inlet, usually between rocky headlands

2. a narrow cavern formed in the sides of cliffs, mountains, etc, usually by erosion

3. a sheltered place

4. Also called: coving. architect a concave curved surface between the wall and ceiling of a room

verb

1. (tr) to form an architectural cove in

cove

²

/ kəʊv /

noun

1. old-fashioned,  a fellow; chap

2. history an overseer of convict labourers

Word History and Origins

Origin of cove¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cofa “cave, den, closet”; cognate with Old Norse kofi “hut,” Greek gýpē “cave”

Origin of cove²

First recorded in 1560–70; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani kova “creature, thing, person”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cove¹

Old English cofa; related to Old Norse kofi, Old High German kubisi tent

Origin of cove²

C16: probably from Romany kova thing, person

Example Sentences

Signs from an old tourist fair propped up behind them urge visitors to "Explore the Beauty of Nature" with illustrations of coves and beaches in Crete.

From BBC

This tucked-away cove is one of the most iconic areas of the lake, known for its turquoise waters, steep granite cliffs and dense pine forests.

From Los Angeles Times

Jim Gully, who was the second generation of the family brought up on the island, said its white sand beaches and rocky coves gave them an "idyllic" childhood.

From BBC

Countless birds and seals died on South Georgia's icy coves and beaches when past giant icebergs stopped them feeding.

From BBC

The croc was independent and apparently a “confirmed bachelor,” a characteristic he made clear “during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” the cove said.

From Los Angeles Times