a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room, a nook or cranny, as in a rock face or wall

in the alcove, an alcove bed, an alcove desk

Formal and Informal Expressions of alcoves

In different contexts, you can replace 'alcoves' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'recess, nook, niche' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'cubbyhole, hideaway' is a commonplace synonym.

alcoves: Explore its Definition & Usage

alcoves Definition

1a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room
2a nook or cranny, as in a rock face or wall

Using alcoves: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "alcoves" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The library has several alcoves for private study.
Example
The hotel room had an alcove with a comfortable armchair.
Example
The climbers found an alcove in the rock face to rest and plan their ascent.

alcoves Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for alcoves

Phrases with alcoves

in the alcove
in a private or secluded place
Example
She was sitting in the alcove, reading a book.
an alcove bed
a bed built into an alcove or recess in a room
Example
The cozy alcove bed was perfect for the small bedroom.
an alcove desk
a desk built into an alcove or recess in a room
Example
The alcove desk provided a quiet workspace away from the main living area.

Origins of alcoves

from Old French 'alcôve', from Spanish 'alcoba', from Arabic 'al-qubba', meaning 'the vault'

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Summary: alcoves in Brief

'Alcoves' [al-kohvz] are recesses or small rooms adjacent to or opening out of a larger room. They can also refer to nooks or crannies in a rock face or wall. Examples include library alcoves for private study and hotel room alcoves with comfortable armchairs. Phrases like 'in the alcove' denote a private or secluded place, while 'an alcove bed' and 'an alcove desk' describe furniture built into an alcove or recess.