DOVE


Meaning of DOVE in English

n.

Any of certain birds of the pigeon family (Columbidae).

The names pigeon and dove are often used interchangeably. Though "dove" usually refers to the smaller, long-tailed members of the pigeon family, there are exceptions: the common street pigeon, generally typical for birds designated as pigeons, is frequently called the rock dove. The common names of these birds do not necessarily reflect their accurate biological relationships to one another.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.