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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A survey of the Blean will focus on six endangered species that are found there, including the the heath fritillary butterfly, one of the UK's rarest, and the turtle dove.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Despite having been in basic training only eight months, he knew what that meant, and dove for the floor.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Warsh may be more of a dove on rates than he appears at first glance.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
Diller then dove into the digital age, acquiring or building a portfolio of web-based companies, and founded IAC in 1995.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Jonathan dove under the water, coming up on the other side of the tree.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Authorities said they hadn’t yet pinpointed a cause for the Dove fire, which burned in the hills southwest of Sonora — a town outside of Yosemite National Park in southern Tuolumne County.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
In “Daughters of the Sun and Moon,” Dove, Petal and Moon arrive in “the dirty, dusty, violent streets of Los Angeles.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Dove parent Unilever has led many other large companies in its embrace of creators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
For this is a charity shop run by Dove House – a Hull-based hospice – and staff here have been collecting and storing the "new but used" dresses ready for "the right time".
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
‘Don’t you lose track of that Dove, Johnny,’ Paul Revere commanded him, ‘for if ever the British march out to attack us a colonel’s horse boy might well know something is happening, in advance.’
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Senior members of Fed who are seen as doves, all else being equal, tend to favor lower interest rates and worry less about inflation than members viewed as hawks.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026
Iran doves, Iran hawks, Israelis, Qataris, Russians, Chinese, Europeans, Turks—operators are standing by to take your call.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026
Classified as extinct in the wild, there are only 180 Socorro doves left globally, cared for by fewer than 50 conservation institutions.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026
To be sure, the doves still have a case for cutting rates.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025
The sun was climbing, and he could hear warbling meadow birds and mourning doves calling from the tall grass beside the road.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
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.
