Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

eaves

/ivz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.85 in modern English

Syllables: eaves
IPA: /ivz/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The underside of a roof that extends beyond the external walls of a building.

noun

Something that extends over or projects beyond.

noun

name

name

A hamlet in Woodplumpton parish, city of Preston district, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD4937).

Example Sentences

"Him that you term'd Sir, the good old Lord Gonzallo, / His teares runs downe his beard like winters drops / From eaues of reeds: […]"
"Thus night oft ſee me in thy pale career, / Till civil-ſuited morn appeer, / […] / Or uſher'd with a ſhower ſtill, / When the guſt hath blown his fill, / Ending on the ruſsling Leaves, / With minute drops from off the Eaves."
"By my window bowered round with leaves, / And down my cheeks the quick tears ran / Like twinkling rain-drops from the eaves, / When warm spring showers are passing o'er: […]"
"Enclose open eaves with noncombustible soffit material."
"But after many strains and heaves / He got up to the Saddle eaves."
"The mystic glory swims away; / From off my bed the moonlight dies; / And closing eaves of wearied eyes / I sleep till dusk is dipt in gray: […]"

Etymology

PIE word *upér From Middle English eves (“projecting lower edge of a roof”) [and other forms], from Old English efes, yfes, *ofes (“edge of a roof”), from Proto-West Germanic *ubisu (“hall”), from Proto-Germanic *ubiswō (compare Gothic 𐌿𐌱𐌹𐌶𐍅𐌰 (ubizwa), Old High German obasa (“hall; porch; roof”)), perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *upér (“above; over”) (whence over).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: eves, efes, *ubisu, *ubiswō, *upér, atte evese
Suffix: eave

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ivz/
British English: /iːvz/

Inflected Forms

eave (alternative)

Phrases

flying eaves Woodhouse Eaves

Frequently Paired Words

eaved eavesdrip eavesdrop eavesdropper eavesdropping eavesdroppingly eavesread eavestrough

Homonyms

eves

Rhymes With

leaves believes receives thieves sleeves reeves achieves weaves perceives relieves greaves jeeves

Questions

How do you pronounce eaves?: The recorded pronunciation is /ivz/.
What does eaves mean?: The underside of a roof that extends beyond the external walls of a building.
Where does eaves come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce eaves

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “eaves”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ivz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “eaves”.
Repeat and practice — Say “eaves” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.