Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A small, slender dove (Streptopelia turtur) of Eurasia and Africa, having a white-edged tail and a soft purring voice.
  • noun Any of several other doves of the genus Streptopelia.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The turtle: any member of the genus Turtur in a broad sense; specifically, T. vulgaris, a dove native in the British Islands and other parts of Europe, and thence extending into Africa and Asia.
  • noun The common Carolina dove or pigeon, Zenaidura carolinensis. Also called mourning-dove. See cut under dove.
  • noun The Australian dove Stictopelia cuneata.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of pigeons belonging to Turtur and allied genera, native of various parts of the Old World; especially, the common European species (Turtur vulgaris), which is noted for its plaintive note, affectionate disposition, and devotion to its mate.
  • noun (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of pigeons more or less resembling the true turtledoves, as the American mourning dove (see under Dove), and the Australian turtledove (Stictopelia cuneata).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of turtle dove.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of several Old World wild doves
  • noun small Australian dove

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The turtledove is migratory (Jer 8: 7), and "comes" early in

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • His voice begins the section; the voice of the turtledove is the central part of the spring day; the desire to hear her voice concludes it.

    Solomon’s Song of Love DR. CRAIG GLICKMAN 2004

  • The case of the turtledove is the most notorious of all, for we would defy any one to assert that he had anywhere seen a turtle-dove in winter-time; at the beginning of the hiding time it is exceedingly plump, and during this period it moults, but retains its plumpness.

    The History of Animals 2002

  • Baptist, historically, was the "turtledove" (So 2: 12), with eye directed to the coming Bridegroom: his Nazarite unshorn hair answers to

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • As ever, Josse avoided bright colours, preferring muted shades, such as turtledove, smoke grey and amethyst.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • [9] so his people and kingdom, -- though as a "lily among thorns," [10] as "sheep among wolves," [11] as a "turtledove" among a multitude of devourers, [12] -- yet stands unshaken, at least unshivered.

    The Sermons of John Owen 1616-1683 1968

  • [Jan. 18th, 2009 | 12: 19 pm] [Tags | books into movies, christopher hinz, comics into movies, david drake, david weber, harry turtledove, joe haldeman, matt wagner] "The Forlorn Hope" by David Drake -- It holds a special place in my heart because its the first Drake book I ever read and the first story I ever really wanted to see made into a movie.

    Books and Comics I would like to see turned in Movies or Mini-Series trinfaneb 2009

  • Keep them friendly though, I don't want to go to war with my old man over a novel, even if it is a Harry turtledove novel.

    MIND MELD: What SF/F/H Books Are On The Top of Your "To-Be-Read" Pile? 2010

  • Outside, she watched a turtledove trying to fly west, into the wind.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

  • Outside, she watched a turtledove trying to fly west, into the wind.

    Come Again No More Jack Todd 2010

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