coves (6)
I believe the answer is:
inlets
'coves' is the definition.
('inlet' can be a synonym of 'cove')
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for inlets that I've seen before include "Small bays of silent kind" , "Silent kind of water channels" , "Bays or coves" , "Silent strips of water" , "Narrow channels of water running from sea or river" .)