pigeon

pigeon — noun

1. a stout bird, usually gray, that people often see around buildings and public sq

1.nounB1
Definition

a stout bird, usually gray, that people often see around buildings and public squares; in some places it is also raised or cooked for food.

Example

A grey pigeon landed beside Leo's chips on the station steps.

pigeon in a familiar town scene

Dozens of pigeons flew above the market just before the rain.

Common collocations
  • grey pigeon
  • flock of pigeons
  • pigeons on the roof
  • roast pigeon
Synonyms
  • dove

    same bird family, but often used for smaller, paler, or symbolic birds

  • rock dove

    more exact species name for many city pigeons

  • wood pigeon

    a larger wild kind, especially in the countryside

Grammar Patterns

a pigeon

flocks of pigeons

cook pigeon

Usage Note

Usually countable when you mean birds you can see one by one. Food use often appears as a mass noun in menu or recipe language, as in 'roast pigeon'.

Common Mistakes

There were many pigeon on the roof.
There were many pigeons on the roof.
this bird sense is usually countable when you mean separate birds.

2. a trained pigeon kept for organized flying races, especially because it can retu

2.nounB2
Definition

a trained pigeon kept for organized flying races, especially because it can return to its home from far away.

Example

Mr. Wu's racing pigeon came home before sunset from Tainan.

racing pigeon returning home

Every spring, the club checks each pigeon before the long race.

Common collocations
  • racing pigeon
  • pigeon loft
  • pigeon race
  • leg band
Synonyms
  • racing pigeon

    full descriptive term for this competitive bird

  • homing pigeon

    stresses the bird's ability to find its way home; often the type used in races

  • racer

    shorter term used informally by pigeon keepers

Grammar Patterns

a racing pigeon

keep pigeons for racing

a pigeon returns home

Usage Note

Often used with words such as 'racing', 'homing', and 'loft', and with verbs like 'keep', 'train', 'release', and 'race'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the ordinary bird seen in streets and fields.

Common Mistakes

Her pigeon won the flying game.
Her pigeon won the race.
competitions for these birds are called races.
Idioms

be somebody’s pigeon

idiom

It is someone's duty or concern to deal with something.

Organizing the office party is Sara's pigeon this year.

If the report is late, that's my pigeon, not yours.

put/set the cat among the pigeons

idiom

To do or say something that causes a lot of anger or trouble.

Maya's announcement about quitting set the cat among the pigeons.

Did Brian really put the cat among the pigeons by revealing the secret?

Word family

  • pigeonhole
    nounC1
  • pigeonhole
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun sense 1, pigeon is the normal everyday word for this familiar bird, especially in towns. Dove is close because both belong to the same bird family, but dove is more often used for smaller or paler birds and in symbolic language about peace or love. Rock dove is a more exact bird name for the wild species behind many city pigeons. Wood pigeon names a larger wild pigeon, so it is not the usual word for birds pecking near buses and train stations. Feral pigeon is a more formal label for pigeons living freely in cities. Compare: 'A pigeon stole my sandwich' is everyday English; 'A feral pigeon nested on the ledge' sounds more technical.

doverock dovewood pigeonferal pigeon

Common collocations

Nouns

  • pigeon keeper
  • pigeon loft

Phrases

  • keep pigeons
  • breed pigeons
  • release pigeons

Etymology

Vulgar LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Pigeon came into English from Old French pigeon, earlier pijon, from Vulgar Latin pipio, a word for a young peeping bird. The Latin form was probably imitative, based on the sound chicks make. English kept the general bird name, and later built words such as pigeonhole from the small compartments once used in dovecotes.