alcove

[al-kohv]

noun

1. a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room.

   a dining alcove.

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

3. any recessed space, as a bower in a garden.

alcove

/ ˈælkəʊv /

noun

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

2. any recessed usually vaulted area, as in a garden wall

3. any covered or secluded spot, such as a summerhouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcove¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcove¹

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

Example Sentences

An alcove devoted to gay rights displays an early version of the rainbow flag, campaign and protest buttons, and a ceiling fragment from the Stonewall Inn, where a 1969 uprising launched the gay liberation movement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 72-year-old pop icon is hanging out on a September afternoon in a leafy alcove at the clubby musician’s spot that’s been her go-to in Los Angeles since the early 1980s.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They also added an outdoor dining area, a birdbath and an alcove with a bench, all situated in the shade of fragrant natives.

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Today, she works out of a wall-to-wall pink velvet alcove covered in floral pink wallpaper and dog hair.

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In the alcove of the first floor, guests can shop for the Pierced Handbag or Balloon Bag, or head up to the third floor’s sunlit atrium to find jewelry and ready-to-wear clothing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compartment 
• cubicle