dove

¹ American  

[duhv] / dʌv /

noun

1. any bird of the family Columbidae, especially the smaller species with pointed tails.

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

3. Dove, a symbol for the Holy Ghost.

4. an innocent, gentle, or tender person.

5. Also called peace dove.  a person, especially one in public office, who advocates peace, compromise, or a conciliatory national attitude.

6. dove color.

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

8. Astronomy. Dove, the constellation Columba.

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dove ² American  

[dohv] / doʊv /

verb

1. a simple past tense of dive.

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Dove ³ American  

[duhv] / dʌv /

noun

1. Arthur, 1880–1946, U.S. painter.

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

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dove ¹ British  

/ dʌv /

noun

1. 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 pigeons

2. politics a person opposed to war Compare hawk 1

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

4. 1. a greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      dove walls

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Dove ² British  

/ dʌv /

noun

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

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dove ³ British  

/ dəʊv /

verb

1. a past tense of dive

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Other Word Forms

• dovelike adjective
• dovish adjective

Etymology

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”

Explanation

A plump white or gray bird that makes a cooing sound is a dove. In both religious and secular contexts, doves are often used to symbolize peace. Doves and pigeons are closely related, and the two names are often used interchangeably. These round, short-necked birds live almost everywhere on the earth, with the exception of Antarctica, the highest elevations of the Arctic, and the Sahara Desert. In politics, a person whose priority is advocating for peaceful solutions is often referred to as a dove.

Example Sentences

But he almost sounds like a dove in this circumstance.

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026

The airline for years stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach that fell out of sync with competitors, which dove deeper into tiered fares and charging for different services as a way to drum up more profits.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

Not that I wasn’t before, but just I dove in even deeper.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

In my years studying at Dartmouth, I dove into the American novel, from Melville to Pynchon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

We all pretended that we didn’t hear her and dove beneath the surface.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• drab
• dusty
• silvery