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

The search is taking place around the Sacred Cove, Portuguese Point and Abalone Cove areas, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Keep going on the shore to Torrance County Beach, then Malaga Cove, where you’ll turn right on Paseo Del Mar until it ends at Palos Verdes Drive West, then bear right on Paseo Del Mar West.

From Los Angeles Times

From here, you can make it all the way to Crystal Cove if the tide is low; otherwise, walk on Ocean Boulevard, take a left on Poppy Avenue, take the PCH and head down the paved trail just past Pelican Point Drive, all the way to the Crystal Cove State Park Historic District.

From Los Angeles Times

Where to stay: The Crystal Cove Beach Cottages are a charming collection of 1920s and 1930s cottages and the site of such Hollywood films as 1920’s “Treasure Island.”

From Los Angeles Times