adj
Common
dual
JOO-uhl
Dual (adj) means Made up of two parts, or relating to two of something. Example: “The phone has a dual camera on the back for sharper photos.”
adj
1
Made up of two parts, or relating to two of something.
"The phone has a dual camera on the back for sharper photos."
"The device has dual controls so two people can operate it at once."
"She holds dual citizenship in Canada and the UK."
verb
1
(British) To upgrade a single-lane road into a dual carriageway.
"Local drivers hope the authority will dual the narrow road to cut traffic jams."
"Work to dual the bypass should ease queues at the roundabout."
"The council plans to dual the busy stretch of the A34."
How to use dual
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInvolving or made of two matching parts.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "duel" (a fight between two people) — they sound identical but are spelled and mean differently.
Common pairings
dual citizenship
dual purpose
dual carriageway
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Word forms
- Plural
- duals
- Third person singular
- duals
- Past tense
- dualed, dualled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The phone has a _____ camera on the back for sharper photos.
Etymology
From Latin dualis, from duo ("two").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dual
See all rhymes for dual →Frequently asked questions
What does “dual” mean?
The word “dual” means made up of two parts, or relating to two of something. In plain terms, involving or made of two matching parts.
How do you pronounce “dual”?
“Dual” is pronounced JOO-uhl (/ˈdul/ in IPA).
How do you use “dual” in a sentence?
Here is “dual” used in a sentence: “The device has dual controls so two people can operate it at once.”
What is another word for “dual”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dual” include binary, double, twin and twofold.
What part of speech is “dual”?
Depending on how it is used, “dual” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dual” come from?
The word “dual” comes from Latin. From Latin dualis, from duo ("two").
Is “dual” a common word?
“Dual” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dual” have?
“Dual” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made up of two parts, or relating to two of something.
What is the difference between "dual" and "duel"?
"Dual" is an adjective meaning having two parts or a double nature, as in "dual citizenship." "Duel" is a noun or verb meaning a formal fight or contest between two people; the two words sound alike but are unrelated in meaning.
What is the difference between "dual" and "double"?
"Dual" describes something that has two distinct parts or serves two roles, such as "dual controls." "Double" usually means twice as much of one thing or a doubled quantity, so a dual purpose means two purposes while a double portion means twice the amount.
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