cove

[ kohv ]

/ koʊv /

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See synonyms for cove on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

a sheltered nook.

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

a narrow pass between woods or hills.

a sheltered area between woods or hills.

Architecture.

a concave surface or molding.
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, cov·ing.

to make or become a cove.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of cove

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cove

bay, cove , gulf, inlet

Words nearby cove

covariance, covariant, covariant theory, covariate, Covarrubias, cove, cove lighting, covellite, coven, covenant, covenantee

Other definitions for cove (2 of 2)

cove²

[ kohv ]

/ koʊv /

noun

British Slang. a person; fellow.

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

Origin of cove

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cove in a sentence

In the quiet moments, when you find a beach or cove all your own, it still feels like a far-flung hinterland.
Don’t call it relaxation. On this Maine island, vacation is for rusticating.|Jen Rose Smith|September 10, 2021|Washington Post
In any case, as aging comes for us all, so it comes, at an accelerated pace, for those who’ve arrived at this little cove just looking for a refreshing day near the water.
M. Night Shyamalan returns with Old, a floppy but haunting thriller about aging|Alissa Wilkinson|July 23, 2021|Vox
One of the best, Devil’s Waterhole, is tucked away in a cove of Inks Lake State Park.
The 5 Best Water Adventures in Texas|kklein|July 8, 2021|Outside Online
Experienced kayakers can enjoy a paddle in the cove, though swimming isn’t recommended due to strong currents.
Beachfront Airbnbs for Under $300 a Night|Megan Michelson|June 15, 2021|Outside Online

This is all laid out around the crescent-shaped cove, a 630-acre reservoir carved from the limestone.
In Roanoke, Va., discovering a gateway to outdoor adventure|John Briley|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
And I thought I should come back one day to do a giant walk over the Sydney Cove from the Opera House to the top of the bridge.
Philippe Petit’s Moment of Concern Walking the WTC Tightrope|Anthony Haden-Guest|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Cove Deli on Main Street buzzed with the sound of a generator, and the lights were dim but the doors thrown open.
Hamptons Residents Reel as Superstorm Sandy Recedes|Emily J. Weitz|October 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Louie Psihoyos' The Cove, on the other hand, feels entirely fresh, and is as dramatic and gripping as any live-action thriller.
How to Win the Office Oscar Pool|The Daily Beast|March 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Directed by Louie Psihoyos, a National Geographic photographer, The Cove is, on its face, eco-advocacy at its best.
The Top Six Documentary Oscar Contenders|Nicole LaPorte|December 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
But the most compelling documentary of the year is The Cove.
The Top Six Documentary Oscar Contenders|Nicole LaPorte|December 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The mainland of the great northern cove and the eastern side of the Islands were thick with trees: oaks, buckeye, willows, madroo.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
The hills that formed a cove of the great valley were bright with their houses and gardens, but very quiet.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
That young cove right opposite to you is one of the best-known sneak-thieves in the city.
The Double Four|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Going up the cove some distance, Henry Burns launched a rowboat and pulled rapidly across, landing some ways above the bluff.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
What they saw was the yacht Eagle, not far from the bluff, under full mainsail, standing out of the cove.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith

British Dictionary definitions for cove (1 of 2)

cove¹

/ (kəʊv) /

noun

a small bay or inlet, usually between rocky headlands

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

a sheltered place

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

verb

(tr) to form an architectural cove in

Word Origin for cove

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

British Dictionary definitions for cove (2 of 2)

cove²

/ (kəʊv) /

noun

old-fashioned, slang, British and Australian a fellow; chap

Australian history an overseer of convict labourers

Word Origin for cove

C16: probably from Romany kova thing, person

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

cove

Origin of cove

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cove

Words nearby cove

Other definitions for cove (2 of 2)

Origin of cove

Words related to cove

How to use cove in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cove (1 of 2)

Word Origin for cove

British Dictionary definitions for cove (2 of 2)

Word Origin for cove