noun any one of numerous species of limicoline birds belonging to the family charadridae, and especially those belonging to the subfamily charadrinsae. they are prized as game birds.
2. plover ·noun any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling, the true plovers, as the crab plover (dromas ardeola); the american upland, plover (bartramia longicauda); and other species of sandpipers.