Meaning

(now uncommon) A hollow in a rock; a cave or cavern..

Definitions by Sense

1. (now uncommon) A hollow in a rock; a cave or cavern.
2. (architecture) A concave vault or archway, especially the arch of a ceiling.
3. A small coastal inlet, especially one having high cliffs protecting vessels from prevailing winds; bight.
4. (US) A strip of prairie extending into woodland.
5. (Cumbria) A recess or sheltered area on the slopes of a mountain.
6. (nautical) The wooden roof of the stern gallery of an old sailing warship.
7. (nautical) A thin line, sometimes gilded, along a yacht's strake below deck level.
8. (Appalachia) A valley between two ridges, especially one that, opening to the south and east, is protected by ridges on the north and west from common winter storm tracks.

Example Sentences

secret coves and noukes

There are several excellent snorkelling spots in the shallow coves around Chimei, and one-day tours (NT$1100 to NT$1300, including transport and food) can be arranged beforehand by your hotel or home-stay.

They were, despite their ignorance, unavoidably prosperous since their farm occupied a wide piece of cove bottom with dirt so black and rich it would raise sweet potatoes as long as your arm[.]

The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded into domes and coved roofs.

Don’t call Major Pendennis an old cove, if you’ll ’ave the goodness, Lightfoot, and don’t call me an old cove, nether. Such words ain’t used in society; and we have lived in the fust society, both at ’ome and foring.

At one point, a friendly-looking sort of cove with silver hair and a grandfatherly kind of face beamed at him […]

Moreover, the provident care of the tortoiſe in the generation, nouriſhment and preſervation of [h]er yooung, is vvoonderfull: for out ſhe goeth of the ſea, and laieth her egges or caſteth her ſpavvne upon the banke ſide; but being not able to cove or ſit upon them, nor to remaine herſelfe upon the land out of the ſea any long time, ſhe beſtovveth them in the gravell, and aftervvards covereth them vvith the lighteſt and fineſt ſand ſhe can get: […]

Word Forms

• coves
• coving
• coved
• couve

Synonyms for cove

Antonyms for cove

Related Words

When Should You Use Cove?

Use cove when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions