ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cove

n. · v.
US //ˈkoʊv// UK //kˈəʊv// cove
  1. 1 coastal inlet (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small, sheltered bay on the coast, often shaped like a horseshoe.

    a small, sheltered coastal inlet, typically characterized by a narrow entrance and high surrounding cliffs.

    Example

    The boat dropped anchor in a quiet cove to hide from the wind.

    Example

    The smugglers preferred the secluded cove because its high limestone cliffs provided excellent cover from the coastal patrol's vantage points.
  2. 2 curved ceiling (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    a curved part where a wall meets a ceiling.

    a concave architectural member or vault, specifically the curved transition between a wall and a ceiling.

    Example

    The grand dining room featured a beautiful gold cove around the ceiling.

    Example

    The architect specified a deep cove to soften the transition between the vertical planes and the ornate plasterwork of the ceiling.
  3. 3 a man (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Archaic Informal

    an old-fashioned way to say 'man' or 'fellow'.

    a person, specifically a man; used as a familiar or slightly dismissive term of address.

    Example

    He seemed like a decent enough cove when I met him at the pub.

    Example

    The old cove sitting by the fireplace had a wealth of stories about the village's history before the war.
  4. 4 to arch over (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    to build something with a curved or arched shape.

    to construct or provide with a concave or arched form.

    Example

    The builder decided to cove the ceiling to make the room feel more elegant.

    Example

    The master mason was instructed to cove the interior corners of the chapel to improve the acoustic properties of the space.
Etymology 1

From Middle English cove, from Old English cofa (“chamber; den”), from Proto-West Germanic kobō, from Proto-Germanic kubô. Cognate with Dutch koof (“cove”), German Low German Koov (“small room”), German Koben (“nook, shed”), Icelandic kofi (“hut, shack”). This word has probably survived as long as it has due to its coincidental phonetic resemblance to the unrelated word English cave. Also unrelated to Spanish cueva, which itself is a cognate of cave.

Etymology 2

Britain ante-1570. From Romani kodo (“this one, him”), perhaps change in consonants due to lower class th-fronting, or Romani kova (“that person”).

Etymology 3

Borrowed from French couver, from Old French cover (“to hatch (eggs)”), from Latin cubāre (“to lie down, recline; to incubate; to be broody”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb- (“to lie down”). Cognates * Italian covare

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026