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Harbor vs Cove - What's the difference?

harbor | cove |

As nouns the difference between harbor and cove

is that harbor is a sheltered expanse of water, adjacent to land, in which ships may dock or anchor, especially for loading and unloading while cove is a hollow in a rock; a cave or cavern.

As verbs the difference between harbor and cove

is that harbor is to provide a harbor or safe place for while cove is to arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the form of a cove.

As a proper noun Cove is

a town in Arkansas.

harbor

English

Alternative forms

* harbour (Commonwealth) * herberwe (obsolete) * herborough (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A sheltered expanse of water, adjacent to land, in which ships may dock or anchor, especially for loading and unloading.
    • A harbor''', even if it is a little '''harbor , is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return -
  • Any place of shelter.
    • The neighborhood is a well-known harbor for petty thieves.

    Derived terms

    * harborage * harbormaster * harbor seal * safe harbor

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To provide a harbor or safe place for.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • To take refuge or shelter in a protected expanse of water.
  • To hold or persistently entertain in one's thoughts or mind.

    • See also

    * haven * dock

    References

    * * * * * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996.

    cove

    English

    (wikipedia cove)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cofa, from (etyl) . Cognate with German Koben, Swedish kofva. This word has probably survived as long as it has due to its coincidental phonetic resemblence to the unrelated word "cave".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A concave vault or archway, especially the arch of a ceiling.
  • A small coastal inlet, especially one having high cliffs protecting vessels from prevailing winds.
  • * Holland
    • vessels which were in readiness for him within secret coves and nooks
  • (US) A strip of prairie extending into woodland.
  • A recess or sheltered area on the slopes of a mountain.
  • (nautical) The wooden roof of the stern gallery of an old sailing warship.
  • (nautical) A thin line, sometimes gilded, along a yacht's strake below deck level.

    • Verb

    (cov)
  • (architecture) To arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the form of a cove.
  • * H. Swinburne
    • The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded into domes and coved roofs.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) . Perhaps change in consonants due to lower class th-fronting.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (British) A fellow; a man.
  • (Australia) A friend; a mate.
    • Derived terms
    * Abram cove * badge-cove * bang up cove

    Etymology 3

    Compare (etyl) couver, (etyl) covare. See covey.

    Verb

    (cov)
  • To brood, cover, over, or sit over, as birds their eggs.
  • * Holland
    • Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel.
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