cove
Small coastal recess
A cove is a small sheltered bay or inlet, typically nestled between rocky headlands: We anchored the boat in a quiet cove.
The word extends to any recessed or sheltered space—an architectural cove is a concave molding where wall meets ceiling.
In older British slang, a cove was simply a man or fellow: a rum cove meant a strange character.
Partially enclosed water
- inletWater extending into land
- harborSafe anchorage for ships
- anchorageSecure harbor spot
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
fjord · lagoon · gulf · bight · embayment · sound · loch · firth
Sandy waterside margin
cliff · rocks · sand · pebbles · tidepools · littoral · foreshore · strand
Illegal goods transporters
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- bootleggersIllicit liquor traffickers
- hiddenKept out of sight
caves · cliffs · lanterns · wreckers · Cornwall · moonlight · secrets · rendezvous
bay
Partially enclosed water
estuary · fjord · lagoon · gulf · bight · embayment · sound · loch · firth · creek
beach
Sandy waterside margin
coastline · cliff · rocks · sand · pebbles · tidepools · littoral · foreshore · strand · dunes
smugglers
Illegal goods transporters
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- bootleggersIllicit liquor traffickers
hidden · caves · cliffs · lanterns · wreckers · Cornwall · moonlight · secrets · rendezvous · stash
hidden
Kept out of sight
tucked · remote · quiet · peaceful · tranquil · intimate · secret · isolated · undiscovered · unspoiled
- coastal lifedolphins, pelicans, lighthouses, seagulls, fishing
- baysgulf, inlet, bight, embayment, sound
- boating destinationscoastal waters, inland lakes, Bahamas, canals, harbors
- coastal landformsbeach, beaches, cliff, cliffs, coast
- coastal placesbeach, Big Sur, island, Monterey Bay, resort
- coastal thingsbeach, sand, shoreline, reef, coral reef
coveheadland
Coastal land jutting seaward
promontory · cape · peninsula · point · spit
coveopen sea
Waters beyond coastlines
open ocean · high seas · open water · ocean · deep sea
- cover upConceal misdeeds or errors
- take coverSeek immediate protection
- book coverProtective outer binding
- under the coversBeneath bed linens
- no coverFree admission policy
- covering upHiding wrongdoing from others
cover, uncover, covering, covered, discovery, recovery, covers, covert, discovered