Showing results for "dove"

• past tense form of dive.
• past participle of dive.

Jump To:

• dove
  dove

  noun

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

  noun

  Arthur, 1880–1946, U.S. painter.

dove

¹ American  

[duhv] / dʌv /

noun

• doves
  plural

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.

---

dove ² American  

[dohv] / doʊv /

verb

1. a simple past tense of dive.

---

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.

---

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

---

Dove ² British  

/ dʌv /

noun

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

---

dove ³ British  

/ dəʊv /

verb

1. a past tense of dive

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dovelike
  adjective
• dovish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• doves
  plural

---

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

See Examples For:

dove Dove doves

Instead, he liked to tell the story of an expert dove hunter who was asked one day if he shot with one or both eyes open.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

When he was a teenager, Walters remembers, he dove into some catfish holes so vast he couldn’t find the back.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

In the eighth inning, he dove after a ground ball up the middle, as shortstop Mookie Betts hurdled over him, and was slow to get up, holding his right shoulder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

"We all know the turtle dove from the festive carol, but the truth is they are now far too rare for such a Christmas gift," park ranger Paul Bushell said.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Jack immediately grabbed May and dove to the floor, barely dodging a bolt of lightning that incinerated the stones just above the Wolf King.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

The maker of Dove soap booked double-digit growth in India, Turkey, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Many people have mistakenly assumed it is a prize for first albums - but this year's shortlist included only two: Dove Ellis's heartfelt and delicate Blizzard, and Jade's That's Showbiz, Baby.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The dramatic plot tracks the Sophoclean original surprisingly closely, and Ms. Dove re-creates much of the horrifying tension and irony in the ancient play’s tangle of misunderstandings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Dove Cameron and Damiano David have tied the knot!

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

‘Colonel Smith is bilious.’Then he noticed it was Johnny, not Dove, and his handsome face brightened.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Highlighting her desire to find a middle ground between the ECB's "hawks" -- who favour rate increases -- and "doves" who prefer looser policy, she described herself as an "owl".

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

Bushell said the 30 turtle doves released in the park during the spring "seem really happy".

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

It is topped with symbols of the Holy Trinity and laden with doves representing mankind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The bird may also have depended more heavily on smell than modern pigeons and doves.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

But suddenly they caught sight of two doves, the birds of Venus.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• drab
• dusty
• silvery

---