dove
dove Lexical Profile
dove Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A stocky, seed- or fruit-eating bird of the pigeon family, typically possessing a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, often distinguished from pigeons by its smaller size.
"We watched a white dove build its nest in the upper branches of the oak tree."
A representation of a white dove used as a universal symbol of peace, purity, or the Holy Spirit.
"The stained glass window featured a glowing dove descending with an olive branch in its beak."
A person who advocates for peaceful or conciliatory policies, especially in foreign affairs, as opposed to military conflict.
"During the heated cabinet meeting, the political dove argued against sending troops across the border."
Word Nuance & Usage
The noun 'dove' (the bird) is pronounced with a short 'u' sound (/dʌv/), whereas the identical spelling 'dove' is used in American English as the past tense of the verb 'dive' and is pronounced with a long 'o' (/doʊv/).
• Rhymes for dove
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'douve', from Old English 'dūfe' (found in compounds), derived from Proto-Germanic 'dūbǭ'. It is historically related to words meaning 'to dive', likely referring to the bird's flight pattern.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.