alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
a
: a small recessed section of a room : nook
b
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche
2
alcoved adjective

Examples of alcove in a Sentence

a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall
Recent Examples on the Web The finished basement has a recreation room that includes an alcove with space for an optional wet bar, and a full bathroom. Hope Hodge Seck, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The space features brick archways lined with colorful lights, alcoves adorned with murals and large booths plus bar seating. The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 These friends constructed a makeshift apartment — complete with a sofa, a TV and video game system, a microwave and a cinderblock wall — in a hidden alcove of the shopping complex’s garage. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Breakfasts hit tables not long after kickoff for the 1 p.m. games on the mainland, mimosas arrive when the law allows at 8 a.m., and fans of teams like the Lions get to know the followers of their opponents in an alcove someplace beneath a modestly sized TV. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024 Western toads and tree frogs thrive in the spring water that seeps from the base of an arched alcove fortified with concrete and then into a murky pond where carp cruise beneath a battered life-size rubber duck floating upside down. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The expansive pool area, in a unique cross shape, offers plenty of loungers and umbrellas, plus some seating alcoves with chairs. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 The latter also features inconspicuous alcoves with chairs that provide a nice place to perch. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Herrero pointed to an alcove in the canyon wall, where a lush hanging garden grew above a sort of natural amphitheater, hidden from the park entrance. Jack Herrera, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alcove.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qubba the arch

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of alcove was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near alcove

Cite this Entry

“Alcove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcove. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alcove

noun
al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
: a small section of a room set back from the rest of it
2
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche

More from Merriam-Webster on alcove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!