dove

[ duhv ]

/ dʌv /

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See synonyms for dove on Thesaurus.com

noun

any bird of the family Columbidae, especially the smaller species with pointed tails.Compare pigeon¹ (def. 1).

a pure white member of this species, used as a symbol of innocence, gentleness, tenderness, and peace.

Dove, a symbol for the Holy Ghost.

an innocent, gentle, or tender person.

Also called peace dove

[pees-duhv] /ˈpis ˌdʌv/ . a person, especially one in public office, who advocates peace, compromise, or a conciliatory national attitude.Compare hawk¹ (def. 4).

dove color.

Economics. an official or advisor who advocates low interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting economic growth.

Dove, Astronomy. the constellation Columba.

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Origin of dove

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; Old English dūfe- (in dūfedoppa “dip-diver”); cognate with Dutch duif, German Taube, Old Norse dūfa, Gothic dūbo, originally, “a diver”

OTHER WORDS FROM dove

dove·like, dov·ish, adjective

Words nearby dove

doux, douzaine, douzepers, douzième, DOVAP, dove, dove color, dovecote, dovekie, dove prion, Dove prism

Other definitions for dove (2 of 3)

dove²

[ dohv ]

/ doʊv /

verb

a simple past tense of dive.

Other definitions for dove (3 of 3)

Dove

[ duhv ]

/ dʌv /

noun

Arthur, 1880–1946, U.S. painter.

Rita, born 1952, U.S. poet and educator: U.S. poet laureate 1993.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use dove in a sentence

Whether that be Dove and Real Beauty and challenging the beauty industry or Ben and Jerry’s and the work done around social justice and climate justice.
Does Advertising Actually Work? (Part 1: TV) (Ep. 440)|Stephen J. Dubner|November 19, 2020|Freakonomics
As we, you know, circled these issues, we left some voters behind — and Republicans dove in with a vengeance and grabbed those voters.
Democrats, nearing a moment of triumph, still feel anxious and divided|Sean Sullivan|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Dove has had to own those mistakes, accept responsibility, and commit to do better.
Will 2020’s racial reckoning lead to progress on marketing’s long-standing representation problems?|Brooke Henderson|October 6, 2020|Fortune
During the summer days, the whales dove to great depths in search of krill.
We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs|Kate Baggaley|October 2, 2020|Popular-Science

Arenberg and Dove reject Harkin’s idea because, in the end, debate isn’t the issue they care about.
The definitive case for ending the filibuster|Ezra Klein|October 1, 2020|Vox
A Fish and Wildlife special agent collected the bodies of two birds at the site, a redhead duck and a mourning dove.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beginning in 1988, he also dove into making art using a fax machine.
The Many Lives of Artist David Hockney|William O’Connor|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
De Merode slipped from his seat and dove toward the roadside and into the forest.
A Belgian Prince, Gorillas, Guerrillas & the Future of the Congo|Nina Strochlic|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He caught both the ball and a bleacher to the face as he dove into the stands.
10 Unforgettable Derek Jeter Highlights (VIDEO)|Jack Holmes|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You'd been drunk for hours, but you dove off a double-decker lake boat and came up gracefully for air.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And really, the little dove-cote, as Mrs. Prentice had called their new home, was a veritable love of a place!
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
See her companion in shot silk and a dove-colored parasol; in what a graceful Watteau-like attitude she reclines.
Little Travels and Roadside Sketches|William Makepeace Thackeray
And Ephraim is become as a dove that is decoyed, not having a heart: they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
A voice from heaven hails the invincible conqueror, and his soul in the form of a dove ascends to the skies.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow
One of the most beautiful symbols of the Catacombs is the dove, the perpetual synonym of peace.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow

British Dictionary definitions for dove (1 of 3)

dove¹

/ (dʌv) /

noun

any of various birds of the family Columbidae, having a heavy body, small head, short legs, and long pointed wings: order Columbiformes. They are typically smaller than pigeonsRelated adjective: columbine

politics a person opposed to warCompare hawk 1 (def. 3)

a gentle or innocent person: used as a term of endearment

a greyish-brown colour
(as adjective)dove walls

Derived forms of dove

dovelike, adjectivedovish, adjective

Word Origin for dove

Old English dūfe (unattested except as a feminine proper name); related to Old Saxon dūbva, Old High German tūba

British Dictionary definitions for dove (2 of 3)

dove²

/ (dəʊv) /

verb

mainly US a past tense of dive

British Dictionary definitions for dove (3 of 3)

Dove

/ (dʌv) /

noun

the Dove Christianity a manifestation of the Holy Spirit (John 1:32)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dove

Origin of dove

OTHER WORDS FROM dove

Words nearby dove

Other definitions for dove (2 of 3)

Other definitions for dove (3 of 3)

Words related to dove

How to use dove in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dove (1 of 3)

Derived forms of dove

Word Origin for dove

British Dictionary definitions for dove (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for dove (3 of 3)