cove1
/kəʊv
/noun
1A small sheltered bay.Be bold and take some time to explore some of the sheltered coves and quiet bays that can be found at a spot near you....
- The best way to get around the sheltered coves and hidden bays is either on a moped or by boat.
- They can be found in the more sheltered coves along the west coast, including those on Achill.
Synonyms
bay, inlet, indentation, fjord, natural harbour, anchorage;
Scottish (sea) loch;
Irish lough
1.1 dialect A sheltered recess among hills or in the side of a mountain.All they found was a small knapsack of books that he had been going to give out when he arrived at the mountain cove....
- Biologists exploring one sheltered cove collected about 268 plant species.
- The trees are rarely as majestic as some of those found in the coves of the Appalachian Mountains.
2 Architecture A concave arch or arched moulding, especially one formed at the junction of a wall with a ceiling.Accessories such as moldings, cornices, coves and miters are also available....
- Ceiling coves were added to help capture and soften the area's reverberation.
- She walked over to the large wardrobe that lined the wall between the cove and the windows.
verb [with object] (usually as adjective coved) Architecture
Provide (a room, ceiling, etc.) with a cove: the mosques are rounded into domes and coved roofs...
- To the left, off the hall, is a large open plan drawing/dining room with a coved ceiling and fitted wall lights.
- Double doors separate two rooms, both with antique-style fireplaces, high coved ceilings and timber floors.
- The room is furnished with a cast-iron fireplace with tiled inset and mahogany surround and has both a dado rail and coved ceiling.
Origin
Old English cofa 'chamber, cave', of Germanic origin; related to German Koben 'pigsty, pen'. sense 1 of the noun dates from the late 16th century.
Rhymes
cove2
/kəʊv/noun British informal, dated
A man: he is a perfectly amiable cove...
- Last night the man took one final comment from a man in the front row, an intellectual-looking cove in a smart suit.
- Rumpole is an amiable old cove.
- Captain, he called himself; looked more like a cove in gent's clothes, if you ask me.
Origin
Mid 16th century: perhaps from Romany kova 'thing or person'.