cove ¹

  (kōv)

n.

1. A small sheltered bay in the shoreline of a sea, river, or lake.

2.

a. A recess or small valley in the side of a mountain.

b. A cave or cavern.

3. A narrow gap or pass between hills or woods.

4. Architecture

a. A concave molding.

b. A concave surface forming a junction between a ceiling and a wall. Also called coving.

tr.v. coved, cov·ing, coves

To make in an inward curving form.

[Middle English, chamber, cave, from Old English cofa.]

cove ²

  (kōv)

n. Chiefly British

A fellow; a man.

[Probably from Romani kova, man.]

cove¹

/kəʊv/

noun

1. 

a small sheltered bay.

Similar:

• bay
• inlet
• indentation
• fjord
• natural harbour
• anchorage
• (sea) loch

Cove in American English

(koʊv ) British, Slang. a boy or man; chap; fellow. Word origin.

Is a cove a beach?

A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. Coves usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves.