turtledove
4
7.3
- noun
- /ˈtɜrtəlˌdʌv/
:
tórtola
- In the garden, I spotted a pair of turtledoves cooing softly to each other.
- two turtledoves
Examples
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A lovely pair of turtledoves.
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The couple walked hand in hand, feeling as sweet as two turtledoves in love.
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As long as we each have a turtledove, we'll be friends forever.
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Now, as long as each of you have your turtledove... ...you'll be friends forever.
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Look at those little turtledoves down here.
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Ah, there you are, you two turtledoves!
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And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons...
Fiction book (1994) -
A little turtledove!
-
The two turtledoves
Fiction book (2001) -
Take me a heifer of three years old... and a she-goat of three years old and a ram of three years old... and a turtledove and a young pigeon.
Synonyms
58
1.0
A small white pigeon often shown as a sign of peace
A small wild European dove that makes a soft, sad coo
A small dove from Australia with a soft cooing sound
A grey dove with a black band around its neck often kept as a pet
A group of doves that includes turtledoves
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word turtledove comes from an old word turtur that copies the bird's soft 'turr-turr' coo and the word dove meaning the bird. So the name itself sounds gentle, which helps explain why turtledoves are a long-standing symbol of devoted love, and the 'turtle' part is about the sound, not the reptile.