noun
Uncommon
dune
dyoon
Dune (noun) means a mound or ridge of loose sand shaped by wind or water. Example: “The children raced each other up the tallest dune on the beach.”
noun
1
A mound or ridge of loose sand shaped by wind or water.
"Heavy line segments (lengthened for clarity) indicate locations of deep-sea dunes."
— Texas A & M University. College of Geosciences, Contributions in Oceanography (1975)
"The children raced each other up the tallest dune on the beach."
"Desert dunes can shift entire metres in a single storm."
How to use dune
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hill of sand piled up naturally, found on beaches and in deserts.
Common pairings
sand dune
dune buggy
rolling dunes
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Word forms
- Plural
- dunes
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The children raced each other up the tallest _____ on the beach.
Etymology
From Dutch duin via Middle Dutch, itself thought to trace back to a Celtic word for a fortified mound — the same root that gave English the word "down" (as in the South Downs).
Synonyms
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sand dune
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dune
See all rhymes for dune →Frequently asked questions
What does “dune” mean?
The word “dune” means a mound or ridge of loose sand shaped by wind or water. In plain terms, a hill of sand piled up naturally, found on beaches and in deserts.
How do you pronounce “dune”?
“Dune” is pronounced dyoon (/djuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “dune” in a sentence?
Here is “dune” used in a sentence: “The children raced each other up the tallest dune on the beach.”
What is the opposite of “dune”?
The opposite of “dune” — its antonyms — is dike.
What part of speech is “dune”?
“Dune” is a noun.
Where does the word “dune” come from?
The word “dune” comes from Dutch. From Dutch duin via Middle Dutch, itself thought to trace back to a Celtic word for a fortified mound — the same root that gave English the word "down" (as in the South Downs).
Is “dune” a common word?
“Dune” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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