alcove

[ al-kohv ]

/ ˈæl koʊv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alcove ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room: a dining alcove.

a recess in a room for a bed, bookcases, or the like.

any recessed space, as a bower in a garden.

Nearby words

alcoran, alcoranist, alcorcón, alcott, alcott, louisa may, alcove, alcuin, alcyonarian, alcyone, alcyoneus, alcántara

Origin of alcove

1670–80; < French alcôve < Spanish alcoba < Arabic al-qubbah the dome

SYNONYMS FOR alcove

nook, bay.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alcove ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alcove

We then passed into a second garden, at the top of which is the alcove mentioned by Mrs. Hemans.
Homes and haunts of the most eminent British poets, Vol. II (of 2)|William Howitt
Hence it drove over and past their alcove and they remained dry.
The Texan Star|Joseph A. Altsheler
When John returned to the door Brother Paul was standing by the alcove gazing with wet eyes on the text hanging above the bed.
The Christian|Hall Caine
Uncle Henry said, and rolled back in the shadows of the alcove.
The Bad Man|Charles Hanson Towne

Lying almost flat on the steep path, and drawing himself forward, he looked into "The Alcove."
The Scouts of the Valley|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for alcove

alcove

/ (ˈælkəʊv) /

noun

a recess or niche in the wall of a room, as for a bed, books, etc

any recessed usually vaulted area, as in a garden wall

any covered or secluded spot, such as a summerhouse

Word Origin for alcove

C17: from French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qubbah the vault, arch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012