alcove
pronunciation
How to pronounce alcove in British English:
UK [ˈælkəʊv]
How to pronounce alcove in American English:
US [ˈælkoʊv]
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- Noun:
- a small recess opening off a larger room
Word Origin
- alcove
- alcove: [17] Alcove is of Arabic origin. It reached English, via French alcôve and Spanish alcoba (where it means ‘recessed area for a bed’), from Arabic al-qobbah ‘the arch, the vault’, hence ‘the vaulted room’, which was derived from the verb qubba ‘vault’.
- alcove (n.)
- 1670s, "vaulted recess," from French alcôve (17c.), from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qobbah "the vaulted chamber," from Semitic base q-b-b "to be bent, crooked, vaulted."
Example
- 1. The bishop installed his guest in the alcove .
- 2. He left the alcove in despair .
- 3. Walkway alcove is the perfect setting for a secluded moment .
- 4. Is the alcove deep enough for bookshelves ?
- 5. He had only time to creep into an alcove to avoid them .