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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The Wordsworth Trust has been the custodian of Dove Cottage, the Wordsworths' first Lake District home, since it was founded in 1891.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Dove soap maker Unilever works with tens of thousands of influencers and wants to grow that by 10 to 20 times.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Bloom, who shares a daughter, Daisy Dove, with Perry, later broke his silence on their separation, telling “Today” host Craig Melvin during a September interview that everything between them is “great.”
From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026
Yet Duvall often looked happiest when riding a horse, be it in the acclaimed TV mini-series Lonesome Dove or in the Kevin Costner Western Open Range.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
Dove and Dusty were to be bribed into service by the promise of delivering the basin to Mr. Hancock when done.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
