turtledoves

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English - English
plural of turtledove
streptopelia
turtledove
{n} a species of dove, a sort of pigeon
turtledove
alternative spelling of turtle dove
turtledove
a type of bird that makes a pleasant soft sound and is sometimes used to represent love (turtle (10-19 centuries) (from turtur, from the sound it makes) + dove). Species (Streptopelia turtur,family Columbidae) of migratory European pigeon that winters in northern Africa. It is about 11 in. (28 cm) long and has a reddish brown body, blue-gray head, and white-tipped tail. A ground feeder, it eats prodigious amounts of small seeds. The name is applied to other temperate and tropical Old World Streptopeliaspecies of slim, fast-flying game birds. The ringed turtledove, or ringdove, has feral populations in California and Florida, U.S.; the laughing and spotted doves have also been introduced outside their native habitats
turtledove
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
turtledove
{i} various doves belonging to the genus Streptopelia and having an elongated tail
turtledove
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)
turtledove
small Australian dove
turtledove
any of several Old World wild doves