adj
Uncommon
dun
duhn
Dun (adj) means a dull greyish-brown colour. Example: “The old horse had a dun coat flecked with grey.”
adj
1
A dull greyish-brown colour.
"The old horse had a dun coat flecked with grey."
"The walls were painted a flat, dun shade that made the room feel drab."
verb
1
To repeatedly pester someone for money they owe you.
"The collection agency kept dunning him for the unpaid balance."
"She was dunned with letters and calls until she finally settled the debt."
How to use dun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a colour it means a drab greyish brown; as a verb it means to hound someone for a debt.
Common mistake
The colour sense and the "chase for payment" sense are unrelated meanings that just happen to share a spelling.
Common pairings
a dun horse
dun-coloured
dunning letter
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Word forms
- Plural
- duns
- Third person singular
- duns
- Past tense
- dunned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old horse had a _____ coat flecked with grey.
Etymology
From Old English dunn, "dingy brown" — an ancient Germanic colour word related to "dusk."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dun” mean?
The word “dun” means a dull greyish-brown colour. In plain terms, as a colour it means a drab greyish brown; as a verb it means to hound someone for a debt.
How do you pronounce “dun”?
“Dun” is pronounced duhn (/dʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “dun” in a sentence?
Here is “dun” used in a sentence: “The old horse had a dun coat flecked with grey.”
What is another word for “dun”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dun” include subimago.
What part of speech is “dun”?
Depending on how it is used, “dun” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dun” come from?
The word “dun” comes from Old English. From Old English dunn, "dingy brown" — an ancient Germanic colour word related to "dusk.".
Is “dun” a common word?
“Dun” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dun” have?
“Dun” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dull greyish-brown colour.
