1 eave | Definition of eave

eave

noun
\ ˈēv How to pronounce eave (audio) \

Definition of eave

1 : the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall usually used in plural
2 : a projecting edge (as of a hill) usually used in plural

Examples of eave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The second stories of these homes were uniquely tall and featured high, arched windows that extended past the eave of the roof, adding to the heightened appearance of the house. Maggie Burch, House Beautiful, "French Provincial Design Has Always Set the Bar For Casual Elegance," 11 Jan. 2019 The roof and walls are supported by 57 trusses that vary in thickness to support the overhang of the curved eave. Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Undulating bamboo house looks like it’s wearing a hat," 24 July 2018 From shadow under the eave, cuts and spreads vermillion across the barn's weathered crust, dots a highlight with fine point in the eye of an owl. Hartford Courant, courant.com, "The Poems Of Aaron Caycedo-Kimura: Honoring Ones Parents," 13 June 2018 Move sun-shy potted plants like fuchsia and orchid cactus (Epiphyllum) under the shade of a leafy tree or an east-facing eave. Nan Sterman, latimes.com, "For SoCal gardeners, a June gloom tipsheet," 31 May 2018 Debi Klein of the Backyard Naturalist in Olney, Md., said the best way to safeguard a feeder is to position it 10 feet from any feature — a tree, an eave, a fence — that a squirrel can jump from. John Kelly, Washington Post, "Meet the D.C. man who wrote the book on defeating birdseed-stealing squirrels," 15 Apr. 2018 The branch falls quickly, wood cracking beneath it, picking up speed, until one end catches firmly on the overhanging eave and the other slows to a halt, caught by the soft hands of viny branches. James Lynch, Popular Mechanics, "After the Storm," 9 Feb. 2018 Most were sucking on filthy icicles that had fallen from the eave of a greenhouse. Alice Gregory, New York Times, "Running Free in Germany’s Outdoor Preschools," 18 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of eave

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for eave

Middle English eves (singular), from Old English efes; akin to Old High German obasa portico, Old English ūp up — more at up

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for eave

eave

noun
\ ˈēv How to pronounce eave (audio) \

Kids Definition of eave

: the lower edge of a roof that sticks out past the wall usually used in pl.

More from Merriam-Webster on eave

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with eave

Nglish: Translation of eave for Spanish Speakers