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hardcoverA 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.
💡 Concept

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

Uncover the hardcover to discover magic!
🎵 Rhyme

Uncover the hardcover to discover magic!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈhɑːrdkʌvər/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈhɑːdkʌvə/

🌳Etymology

Roothard
Suffix-cover

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

discoverrecoveruncover
discover
recover
uncover

🔗Collocations

hardcover edition
hardcover book
publish in hardcover
hardcover bestseller
hardcover price
hardcover release

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

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.

😄 Fun example

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

bound bookcase-bound bookcloth-bound book

Antonyms

paperbacksoftcover

Related

bindingpublicationeditiondust jacketspine

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