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, cov·ing.

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. old-fashioned.
   a fellow; chap
2. history an overseer of convict labourers

cove

²

/ 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 calledcoving architect a concave curved surface between the wall and ceiling of a room

verb

1. tr to form an architectural cove in

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

C16: probably from Romany kova thing, person

Origin of cove²

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

Example Sentences

Kenzie said his belongings had been found by police and coastguard at a cove accessed by boat.

From BBC

Laguna Beach has been a popular destination for decades, with it’s iconic rocky coastline, scenic coves and artsy village atmosphere.

From Los Angeles Times

There have been a number of similar rockfalls at the same cove, including a major landslip earlier this year, which occurred after days of heavy rainfall.

From BBC

BP’s purchase wouldn’t be the first time Lummi Nation has seen a massive corporation keen on this land adjacent to a coveted deep-water cove.

From Seattle Times

On a promontory above Puget Sound, a Douglas fir with arms bent at right angles stands above a quiet cove, where shellfish would have been gathered, long before this place was settled by newcomers.

From Seattle Times