cove
gb/kˈoʊv/ us/kˈoʊv/
B2
English
~ 9100
öböl, holker, pasas
NOUN
B2
1
öböl
B1
Usage pattern:
a [cove] along [a coast]
We dropped anchor in a quiet cove and went swimming until sunset.
Egy csendes öbölben vetettünk horgonyt, és naplementéig úsztunk.
The trail leads down to a tiny cove with clear turquoise water.
Az ösvény egy apró, tiszta türkizkék vizű öbölhöz vezet le.
Smugglers once used this hidden cove to bring goods ashore at night.
They bought a cottage overlooking a rocky cove on the north coast.
Waves crashed at the mouth of the cove but the water near the beach stayed calm.
Learner examples
We swam in a small cove near the hotel.
A szálloda közelében lévő kis öbölben úsztunk.
The boat is in a quiet cove, away from the big waves.
A hajó egy csendes öbölben van, távol a nagy hullámoktól.
There is a sandy beach in the cove.
They walked over the hill to see the secret cove.
The cove is a safe place for little boats.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "cove" with "cave". A "cove" is an open place where the sea comes into the land, usually with sky above it, while a "cave" is a dark hole in rock or a cliff. Learners may also try to use "cove" for any bay, but in English it usually suggests a relatively small and sheltered place.
Meaning
small sheltered bay or inlet
Collocations
secluded cove
|hidden cove
|rocky cove
|small cove
|sheltered cove
Synonyms
inlet (More general; can be larger and less sheltered than a typical cove.)
Antonyms
headland (A piece of land that sticks out into the sea, the opposite of a recessed coastal feature like a cove.)
Themes
nature
|geography
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small, quiet place where the sea comes into the land, usually protected and often with a beach.
A small, sheltered curve or indentation in a coastline, often with a beach and protected from the open sea.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
holker
C1
Usage pattern:
a [cove] between [a wall] and [a ceiling]
The architect specified a smooth cove at the wall–ceiling junction to create a softer look.
Az építész sima holkert írt elő a fal és a mennyezet találkozásánál, hogy lágyabb hatást keltsen.
They installed LED strips in the ceiling cove to provide indirect lighting in the living room.
LED-szalagokat szereltek a mennyezeti holkerbe, hogy közvetett világítást adjanak a nappaliban.
Dust had gathered along the decorative cove that ran around the top of the dining room walls.
Learner examples
There is a small cove between the wall and the ceiling.
A fal és a mennyezet között egy kis holker van.
Lights in the cove make the room feel soft and warm.
A holkerben lévő fények lágy és meleg hangulatot adnak a szobának.
The builder added a new cove to hide the wires.
We painted the cove the same color as the ceiling.
The cove makes the corner look round, not sharp.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this meaning of "cove" is related to the seaside place, but in architecture it is a separate, more technical term. It should not be used to describe any corner; it specifically refers to a curved, concave transition or molding.
Meaning
concave junction of wall and ceiling
Collocations
cove lighting
|cove ceiling
|cove molding
|indirect cove lighting
|decorative cove
Synonyms
recess (Describes a space set back or hollowed out; less specific than the curved, molding-like form implied by "cove".)
Antonyms
projection (Refers to a part that sticks out from a surface, the opposite of a concave or hollow form like a cove.)
Themes
architecture
|home
|design
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A curved, hollow shape where a wall and the ceiling meet, often used as a design detail in rooms.
A concave, curved surface or molding at the junction of a wall and a ceiling, or sometimes between other interior surfaces.
NOUN
C2
INFORMAL
3
pasas
B1
Usage pattern:
[a/an] [adjective] cove
Some old cove at the bus stop started telling me stories about the war.
Valami öreg pasas a buszmegállóban háborús történeteket kezdett mesélni nekem.
He seems a decent sort of cove, even if he dresses strangely.
Rendes pasasnak tűnik, még ha furcsán is öltözik.
In the novel, a mysterious cove appears in town and nobody knows his past.
Learner examples
An old cove sat alone at the bar.
Egy öreg pasas ült egyedül a bárnál.
That cove over there lives next to my mother.
Az a pasas ott az anyám mellett lakik.
He is a strange cove, but I like him.
They thought the new cove in the office was very quiet.
The story is about a poor cove who loses his job.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is a normal, modern word for "man" and use it in everyday conversation. In reality, it sounds old-fashioned or humorous, and is mainly seen in older British books or used jokingly. It should not be used in serious modern writing or speech unless you want an old-time or comic effect.
Meaning
man or fellow (old-fashioned)
Collocations
old cove
|funny cove
|queer cove
|poor cove
Synonyms
bloke (Common modern British informal word for a man; more widely used today than "cove".)
Antonyms
woman (Refers to an adult female person, contrasting with this sense of "cove" which refers to an adult male.)
Themes
people
|informal
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An old-fashioned informal word meaning a man or a guy, mainly used in British English.
An informal word for a man, often suggesting a particular type of person and mainly used in older British English or in a humorous or old-fashioned way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cove
IPA
GB/kˈoʊv/
US/kˈoʊv/
Syllables & stress
cove (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cove)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cove
- Plural: coves
Word family
Forms
coves
noun
Expressions
cove lighting
1/kˈoʊv lˈaɪtɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
indirect ceiling-edge lighting
Lighting that is hidden in a space near the ceiling so that the light shines indirectly into the room.
Examples
- They added cove lighting in the living room to create a soft, warm glow.
- Modern hotels often use LED cove lighting along the ceiling for a clean, stylish look.
- The designer recommended cove lighting instead of a central ceiling fixture.