TURTLEDOVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does turtledove mean? 

• TURTLEDOVE (noun)
  The noun TURTLEDOVE has 2 senses:

1. small Australian dove

2. any of several Old World wild doves

  Familiarity information: TURTLEDOVE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TURTLEDOVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Small Australian dove

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

Australian turtledove; Stictopelia cuneata; turtledove

Hypernyms ("turtledove" is a kind of...):

dove (any of numerous small pigeons)

Holonyms ("turtledove" is a member of...):

genus Stictopelia; Stictopelia (a genus of Columbidae)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of several Old World wild doves

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("turtledove" is a kind of...):

dove (any of numerous small pigeons)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turtledove"):

Streptopelia turtur (the common European wild dove noted for its plaintive cooing)

ringdove; Streptopelia risoria (greyish Old World turtledove with a black band around the neck; often caged)

Holonyms ("turtledove" is a member of...):

genus Streptopelia; Streptopelia (turtledoves)

 Context examples 

We have such funny times, and now I can enjoy them, for everyone is so desperately good, it's like living in a nest of turtledoves.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Meg is the turtledove, and Amy is like the lark she writes about, trying to get up among the clouds, but always dropping down into its nest again.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Laurie had christened it, saying it was highly appropriate to the gentle lovers who 'went on together like a pair of turtledoves, with first a bill and then a coo'.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"You ought to have sent word, or told me this morning, and you ought to have remembered how busy I was," continued Meg petulantly, for even turtledoves will peck when ruffled.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)