A cove is a small, sheltered bay where the water curves gently into the land, creating a cozy, protected spot along a coastline. Picture a crescent-shaped indent in the shoreline, surrounded by cliffs or hills that block the wind and waves. Pirates in adventure stories often hide their ships in hidden coves, and in real life, coves make perfect spots for swimming, fishing, or anchoring boats because the water stays calmer than the open sea.

The word can also mean a curved indentation or recess in architecture. When builders install cove lighting, they're placing lights in a curved ledge near the ceiling that bounces soft light off the walls.

In older English, particularly in British dialects, people sometimes used “cove” as slang for a man or fellow, like saying “he's a decent cove” to mean someone’s a good guy. You might encounter this usage in old adventure novels, though it's rarely used this way anymore.