any bird of the family Columbidae, especially the smaller species with pointed tails.
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. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates peace, compromise, or a conciliatory national attitude.
Economics. an official or advisor who advocates low interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting economic growth.
Astronomy. Dove, the constellation Columba.
Arthur, 1880–1946, U.S. painter.
Rita, born 1952, U.S. poet and educator: U.S. poet laureate 1993.
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
politics a person opposed to war Compare hawk 1
a gentle or innocent person: used as a term of endearment
a greyish-brown colour
( as adjective )
dove walls
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”
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.
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That includes Powell, a dove by inclination who says he plans to keep a low profile.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Attendees dove under tables in chaotic scenes as Secret Service agents swarmed into the glitzy White House Correspondents' Association dinner, held annually in the US capital.
From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026
We drove on, and Dantzler told stories of dove hunts in the grove, of outsize characters of the old citrus elite.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
Even his former nemesis Wiley paid respects, posting a video of one of Ellis's instrumentals with a dove emoji.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026
I dove for the docking station and in my rush accidentally smashed several of the buttons at the same time.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
