doves
doves
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /dʌvz/
doves: /dʌvz/
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative
/z/ - voiced alveolar sibilant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: dove
Plural Noun: doves
Verb (base form): dove (less common, but used as a past tense form of "dive")
Verb (past tense): dived (more common), dove (less common)
Verb (past participle): dived, dove
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. A type of bird. A plump, gentle bird of the family Columbidae, known for its cooing sound and symbolic representation of peace, love, and the Holy Spirit. They are often white or gray and are found worldwide.
Synonyms: pigeon, turtledove
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this is a specific type of animal)
2. A person who advocates for peace. Someone who supports peaceful and diplomatic solutions to conflicts, as opposed to military action.
Synonyms: pacifist, peacemaker, conciliator
Antonyms: hawk, warmonger, militarist
Verb
1. To plunge into water. The past tense of the verb "to dive," meaning to jump or fall headfirst into water, often from a height.
Synonyms: plunged, leaped, jumped, fell
Antonyms: ascended, rose, surfaced
2. To move quickly and suddenly downward. The past tense of the verb "to dive," meaning to move abruptly or descend rapidly.
Synonyms: swooped, descended, plummeted
Antonyms: ascended, soared, climbed
Examples of Use
"In politics, there's always a debate between the doves who favor diplomacy and the hawks who prefer military intervention," the analyst explained.
The famous Picasso lithograph "The Dove" was created in 1949 and has since become a universal symbol of peace.
The New York Times reported on a new study that tracked the migration patterns of mourning doves across North America (July 2024).
The classic John Woo film The Killer is famously known for its stylized action sequences, which often feature white doves fluttering through the air as symbols of innocence and purity.
During a discussion about a recent international conflict, one commentator noted, "The president is trying to find a middle ground, but the doves in his party are urging for a ceasefire, while the hawks are pushing for stronger sanctions."
A travel blogger wrote, "Waking up to the gentle cooing of doves in the courtyard was a perfect start to our morning in Rome."
In the 1984 film Purple Rain, Prince sings, "Maybe I'm just like my father, too bold / Maybe you're just like my mother, she's never satisfied / Why do we scream at each other? / This is what it sounds like when doves cry."
The conservation group's newsletter highlighted a successful program to protect urban doves from threats posed by habitat loss and pollution.
A headline from The Guardian read, "European Central Bank doves push for interest rate cuts amid slowing economic growth" (May 2024).
10 Famous Quotes Using Doves
“When doves cry.” (Prince)
“I sent forth a raven and a doves, but neither returned.” (Noah, from the Hebrew Bible)
"The one thing about being a doves is that you're always trying to make a deal, and the one thing about being a hawk is that you're always trying to win." (Madeleine Albright)
“We are surrounded by doves, but they are not the ones who start wars.” (Bono)
“And he was not a hawk or a doves; he was a leader.” (Hillary Clinton)
“A woman's mind is a doves' nest, and doves' nests are full of doves' secrets.” (John Lyly)
“And on the third day, the doves did fly, and on the fourth day, the sky did sigh.” (William Blake)
"The doves and the hawks must learn to coexist, or they will destroy us all." (John F. Kennedy)
"Hope is a thing with feathers—that perches in the soul—and sings the tune without the words—and never stops—at all—" (Emily Dickinson)
"The doves of peace have been killed by the hawks of war." (Yasser Arafat)
Etymology
The word "doves" comes from the Old English word dūfe, which itself came from a Proto-Germanic word, dūbǭ.
The first known use of "dove" to refer to the bird as we know it today was in the 13th century. However, the word's deeper origins are a little uncertain. Some language experts believe it might be related to the Old English verb dūfan, which meant "to dive or plunge." This connection is interesting because a dove's flight can sometimes look like a series of quick dips or dives.
Others suggest the word might be an onomatopoeia, meaning it was created to imitate the cooing sound the bird makes. Over time, the word evolved in English to its current form, and it's also where we get related words in other languages, like the German word Taube and the Dutch word duif.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Doves
Doves of peace: Referring to symbols of peace or people who advocate for it.
To send out the doves: To make an effort to create peace or resolve a conflict.
Doves and hawks: A political idiom to describe those who favor diplomacy versus those who favor military action.
As gentle as a dove: A simile describing someone who is very kind, peaceful, and mild-mannered.
The cooing of doves: A phrase used to describe a peaceful, calm, or romantic atmosphere.
A flight of doves: A poetic way to describe a group of these birds flying together.
The dove returns: An idiom referencing the biblical story of Noah, meaning a sign of hope or resolution has arrived.
Pigeons come home to roost: An idiom using a synonym, meaning that past actions, especially bad ones, will eventually have consequences.
A dove's eye: A phrase referring to a gentle, innocent, or kind gaze.
In the spirit of the dove: Acting with peaceful intentions and goodwill.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of doves from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
