hardcover — A book bound with rigid protective covers
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A book bound with rigid protective covers
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhɑːrdkʌvər/
Example Sentences
- The hardcover was so expensive that I waited for the paperback to buy my grandmother a romance novel.
- Many collectors prefer hardcover first editions for their investment value.
- His hardcover autobiography was so heavy it could double as a doorstop.
hardcover
NOUN[/ˈhɑːrdkʌvər/]
A book bound with rigid protective covers

She pulled a thick hardcover off the library shelf and smiled.

Uncover the hardcover to discover magic!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term hardcover emerged in the 1930s as a compound word intuitively formed to describe books bound with rigid, stiff covers. It arose from the practical need to distinguish between books with inflexible board bindings and those with soft paper covers, becoming standard publishing terminology.
Breakdown
hard (firm, rigid, unyielding) + cover (protective outer binding). The compound combines an adjective describing the physical quality of the binding with a noun denoting the book's outer shell.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The hardcover was so expensive that I waited for the paperback to buy my grandmother a romance novel.”
“Many collectors prefer hardcover first editions for their investment value.”
“His hardcover autobiography was so heavy it could double as a doorstop.”
“The library's hardcover section contains the most frequently borrowed books.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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