cove

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a recessed place : concavity: such as
a
: an architectural member with a concave cross section
b
: a trough for concealed lighting at the upper part of a wall
2
: a small sheltered inlet or bay
3
a
: a deep recess or small valley in the side of a mountain
b
: a level area sheltered by hills or mountains

cove

2 of 3

verb

coved; coving

transitive verb

: to make in a hollow concave form

cove

3 of 3

noun (2)

British, old-fashioned
: man, fellow

Examples of cove in a Sentence

Noun (1) a secluded cove that smugglers once used
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Long before its golden sands and rocky coves became reality TV-famous, Laguna Beach was known as an enclave for artists, eccentrics, surfers, and bohemians. Christina Pérez, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024 Days can be spent soaking up the sun at the infinity pool (settle down and you’ll be bought your own mini cooler box stocked with iced water and fruit juice) or at the beach, which is sheltered by dramatic rock formations leading to hidden coves. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Very few have the necessary equipment like VHFs to contact help if trouble arises, relying solely on cell signals, which can be unreliable in certain coves. Skylar Smith, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Aug. 2024 But a fan, who goes by the moniker McCovey Cove Dave and sits in the cove in a kayak during games, declined to make a trade for a jersey or other equipment. David O'Brien, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cove 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, den, from Old English cofa; akin to Old High German chubisi hut

Noun (2)

Romani kova thing, person

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1756, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cove was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cove

Cite this Entry

“Cove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cove. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cove

noun
ˈkōv
1
: a small sheltered inlet or bay
2
: a level area sheltered by hills or mountains

More from Merriam-Webster on cove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!