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• dene
  dene

  noun

  a bare, sandy tract or low sand hill near the sea.
• Dene
  Dene

  plural noun

  the North American Indian peoples of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in Canada. The official body representing them is called the Dene Nation

dene

American  

[deen] / din /

Or dean

noun

British.

1. a bare, sandy tract or low sand hill near the sea.

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Dene ¹ British  

/ ˈdɛneɪ, ˈdɛnɪ /

plural noun

1. the North American Indian peoples of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in Canada. The official body representing them is called the Dene Nation

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dene ² British  

/ diːn /

noun

1. a valley, esp one that is narrow and wooded

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dene ³ British  

/ diːn /

noun

1. dialect a sandy stretch of land or dune near the sea

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Etymology

Origin of dene

1815–20; earlier den, in same sense, Middle English (in phrase den and strond ); perhaps to be identified with Middle English dene, Old English denu, dænu valley

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dene Dene

Bryng us in no mutton, for that is often lene, Nor bryng us in no trypys, for thei be syldom dene But bryng us in good ale.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

At three we came on to Roddam, where an uncle and aunt of Charlie Bosanquet's live—a beautiful place, with a terraced garden almost overhanging the moorlands, and a dene stretching up into the Cheviots.

From Story of My Life, volumes 1-3 by Hare, Augustus J. C.

Enough now; since the sacred matter that I mean I should be wronging longer leaving it to float Upon this only gambolling and echoing-of-earth note— What is … the delightful dene?

From Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins Now First Published by Bridges, Robert Seymour

Night's noon stars coyly peep, O'er dale and dene and deep, And Fairies fair float through the air, Love's festival to keep.

From The Zankiwank and The Bletherwitch An Original Fantastic Fairy Extravaganza by Fitzgerald, S. J. Adair

Like the prodigal, he grew that ashamit o' what he had dene, that he gied up his kirk, and gaed hame to the day's darg upon his father's ferm.

From Salted with Fire by MacDonald, George

Prosecutors at Reading Crown Court said any competent driver should still have avoided the Micra, owned by Dhillon's daughter, Rajpal Dene.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

Rajpal Dene was driving westwards on the M4, near Reading, Berkshire.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

Clare was a member of the Labour Party when she was first elected in Winsford Dene ward in 2019, but left in March 2022 to join the Socialist Labour Party.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

The councillor, who represents Winsford Dene on Cheshire West and Chester Council, was arrested at the town's LGBTQ+ event on 28 June.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

"Poor child, poor child," said Walter Dene tenderly.

From Strange Stories by Allen, Grant