dune
Americannoun
noun
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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.
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See more at barchan dune draa longitudinal dune seif dune transverse dune
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dune
1780–90; < French, Old French < Middle Dutch dūna; cognate with down 3
Explanation
A dune is a natural hill made of sand, either on a beach or in a desert. It's a good idea to bring plenty of water and a camel if you're trekking across sand dunes in the Sahara. Sometimes people drive special vehicles on the dunes beside the ocean — these are sometimes called "dune buggies." These seaside dunes are formed by a combination of wind and water, while the dunes in a desert are purely the result of wind. The origin of the word dune is somewhat uncertain, although it probably comes from a French word with an older Germanic root.
Vocabulary lists containing dune
Physical Geography - Introductory
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Seas The Day: Words That Shore Are Beachy
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Non-Color Words to Use When Describing Color
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, 150-plus investigations into insider trading is comparatively few in comparison with the 54 million to 88 million transactions per month Kalshi saw in the first quarter, according to data from Dune.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
The star also appears in the film adaptation of "Street Fighter" and in the "Dune" trilogy, whose final installment hits theaters in December.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
During her time away from MMA, Carano turned to acting, before securing a key role playing Cara Dune in the Star Wars franchise spin-off The Mandalorian.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
About 75% of Kalshi’s volume in April came from sports-related prediction markets, according to data from Dune.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
The car turned up on Dune Road, home of Rafael Gonzaga.
From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
