noun
duplex
DOO-plehks
noun
1
A house divided into two separate living units, or a single home with two floors.
"They rented one half of a duplex near the university."
"The new duplex has a bedroom upstairs and living space downstairs."
adj
1
Made up of two matching parts, or working in two directions at once.
"The intercom uses duplex communication so both sides can talk simultaneously."
How to Use Duplex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething built or working in two matched parts — most commonly a two-family house.
Common pairings
duplex apartment
duplex house
full duplex
Word Forms
duplexed past tense, duplexes plural, duplices plural, duplexes singular
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Etymology
From Latin duplex, "twofold," from duo ("two") plus plicare ("to fold").