dove

[ duhv ]

/ dʌv /

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.

(initial capital letter) a symbol for the Holy Ghost.

an innocent, gentle, or tender person.

Also called peace dove. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates peace or a conciliatory national attitude.Compare hawk¹(def 4).

dove color.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Columba.

Nearby words

doux, douzaine, douzepers, douzième, dovap, dove, dove color, dove prion, dove prism, dove, rita, dovecote

Origin of dove

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

Related forms

dove·like, dov·ish, adjectivedov·ish·ness, noun

Definition for dove (2 of 4)

dove

[ dohv ]

/ doʊv /

verb

a simple past tense of dive.

Definition for dove (3 of 4)

Dove

[ duhv ]

/ dʌv /

noun

Arthur,1880–1946, U.S. painter.

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

Definition for dove (4 of 4)

dive

[ dahyv ]

/ daɪv /

verb (used without object), dived or dove, dived, div·ing.

to plunge into water, especially headfirst.

to go below the surface of the water, as a submarine.

to plunge, fall, or descend through the air, into the earth, etc.: The acrobats dived into nets.

Aeronautics. (of an airplane) to descend rapidly.

to penetrate suddenly into something, as with the hand: to dive into one's purse.

to dart: to dive into a doorway.

to enter deeply or plunge into a subject, activity, etc.

verb (used with object), dived or dove, dived, div·ing.

to cause to plunge, submerge, or descend.

to insert quickly; plunge: He dived his hand into his pocket.

noun

an act or instance of diving.

a jump or plunge into water, especially in a prescribed way from a diving board.

the vertical or nearly vertical descent of an airplane at a speed surpassing the possible speed of the same plane in level flight.

a submerging, as of a submarine or skindiver.

a dash, plunge, or lunge, as if throwing oneself at or into something: He made a dive for the football.

a sudden or sharp decline, as in stock prices.

Informal. a dingy or disreputable bar or nightclub.

Boxing. a false show of being knocked out, usually in a bout whose result has been prearranged: to take a dive in an early round.

Origin of dive

before 900; Middle English diven to dive, dip, Old English dȳfan to dip (causative of dūfan to dive, sink); cognate with Old Norse dȳfa dip, German taufen to baptize; akin to dip¹

Related forms

post·dive, adjectivepre·dive, adjectiveun·der·dive, nounun·der·dive, verb (used without object), un·der·dived or un·der·dove, un·der·dived, un·der·div·ing.

Usage note

Both dived and dove are standard as the past tense of dive. Dived, historically the older form, is somewhat more common in edited writing, but dove occurs there so frequently that it also must be considered standard: The rescuer dove into 20 feet of icy water. Dove is an Americanism that probably developed by analogy with alternations like drive, drove and ride, rode. It is the more common form in speech in the northern United States and in Canada, and its use seems to be spreading. The past participle of dive is always dived.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dove

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

Improper burial, Dove says, could mean that harmful bacteria are leeching into the waterways.
Aporkalypse Now: Pig-Killing Virus Could Mean the End of Bacon|Carrie Arnold|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Only the cuckoo of our common birds builds so flimsy a nest as the dove's adored darling.
Birds Every Child Should Know|Neltje Blanchan
It was a daring dash, and he dove to the bag with a long slide, but the decision was against him.
The Young Pitcher|Zane Grey
An excellent winding up of the trick would be the production of a dove from breast pocket.
Magic|Ellis Stanyon
After "setting the hook" securely, Carol and Bill donned swim suits, dove overboard and swam lazily the 300 yards in to shore.
The Day of the Dog|Anderson Horne
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

British Dictionary definitions for dove (1 of 4)

dove

/ (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

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 4)

dove

/ (dəʊv) /

verb

mainly US a past tense of dive

British Dictionary definitions for dove (3 of 4)

Dove

/ (dʌv) /

noun

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

British Dictionary definitions for dove (4 of 4)

dive

/ (daɪv) /

verb dives, diving or dived or US dove or dived (mainly intr)

to plunge headfirst into water

(of a submarine, swimmer, etc) to submerge under water

(also tr) to fly (an aircraft) in a steep nose-down descending path, or (of an aircraft) to fly in such a path

to rush, go, or reach quickly, as in a headlong plungehe dived for the ball

(also tr; foll by in or into) to dip or put (one's hand) quickly or forcefully (into)to dive into one's pocket

(usually foll by in or into) to involve oneself (in something), as in eating food

soccer slang (of a footballer) to pretend to have been tripped or impeded by an opposing player in order to win a free kick or penalty

noun

a headlong plunge into water, esp one of several formalized movements executed as a sport

an act or instance of diving

a steep nose-down descent of an aircraft

slang a disreputable or seedy bar or club

boxing slang the act of a boxer pretending to be knocked down or outhe took a dive in the fourth round

soccer slang the act of a player pretending to have been tripped or impeded

Word Origin for dive

Old English dӯfan; related to Old Norse dӯfa to dip, Frisian dīvi; see deep, dip

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