dune

[doon, dyoon]

noun

1. a sand hill or sand ridge formed by the wind, usually in desert regions or near lakes and oceans.

dune

/ djuːn /

noun

1. a mound or ridge of drifted sand, occurring on the sea coast and in deserts

dune

1. A hill or ridge of wind-blown sand. Dunes are capable of moving by the motion of their individual grains but usually keep the same shape.

2. See more at barchan dune draa longitudinal dune seif dune transverse dune

Word History and Origins

Origin of dune¹

1780–90; < French, Old French < Middle Dutch dūna; cognate with down ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of dune¹

C18: via Old French from Middle Dutch dūne; see _down ³

Example Sentences

The antlered escapee was eventually captured several hours later after falling asleep in the dunes of a nearby beach, before being returned to his owners.

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The social media posts that Prince William and his family share to their 17.1 million followers have a similar approach, with many showing them off-duty, with videos shot in woods, on sand dunes.

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"We set up the tyre repair shop in the middle of the sand dunes, far from the town centre," says Mr Jiménez.

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Among steps already taken are the introduction of ponies to graze and opening up some of the dunes to the elements.

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At Monte Clérigo, researchers identified 5 trackways and 26 individual footprints created by adults and by children slightly over a year old on the slope of what was once a coastal dune.

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Related Words

• knoll 
• ridge 
• sand dune www.thesaurus.com