dove

n. (dŬv)

[OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. dūfe; akin to OS. dūba, D. duif, OHG. tūba, G. taube, Icel. dūfa, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. dūbō; perh. from the root of E. dive.]

1. (Zoöl.) A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The species are numerous.

Note: The domestic dove, including the varieties called fantails, tumblers, carrier pigeons, etc., was derived from the rock pigeon (Columba livia) of Europe and Asia; the turtledove of Europe, celebrated for its sweet, plaintive note, is C. turtur or Turtur vulgaris; the ringdove, the largest of European species, is C. palumbus; the Carolina dove, or Mourning dove, is Zenaidura macroura; the sea dove is the little auk (Mergulus alle or Alle alle). See Turtledove, Ground dove, and Rock pigeon. The dove is a symbol of peace, innocence, gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost.

2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.

O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice.

Cant. ii. 14.

3. a person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation rather than war or conflict. Opposite of hawk.
[PJC]

Dove tick (Zoöl.), a mite (Argas reflexus) which infests doves and other birds. -- Soiled dove, a prostitute. [Slang]

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For more information on dove, visit Britannica.com.

IN BRIEF: A small wild pigeon.

We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart. — Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968), American civil rights leader, clergyman, youngest recipient of Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 4 meanings:

Meaning #1: any of numerous small pigeons

Meaning #2: someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations
  Synonym: peacenik
  Antonym: hawk (meaning #2)

Meaning #3: flesh of a pigeon suitable for roasting or braising; flesh of a dove (young squab) may be broiled
  Synonym: squab

Meaning #4: an emblem of peace

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - due, blid person, fredsforkæmper, Helligånden, duegrå

Nederlands (Dutch)
duif, gedoken

Français (French)
n. - colombe, pigeon, (fig, US, Pol) colombe

Deutsch (German)
n. - Taube

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ορνιθ.) περιστέρι, (μτφ.) περιστερά, ειρηνιστής

Italiano (Italian)
colomba

Português (Portuguese)
n. - pomba (f) (Ornit.) (Zool.)

Русский (Russian)
голубь

Español (Spanish)
n. - paloma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - duva

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
鸽子

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鴿子

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 비둘기, 성령

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ハト, ハト派の人, 穏健派の人

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) حمامه, رجل سياسي يأييد السلام والمفاوضات أكثر من الحرب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮יונה‬

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dove	lonsome dove
Epiphone Dove	dove soap