dual

[doo-uhl, dyoo-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or noting two.

2. composed or consisting of two people, items, parts, etc., together; twofold; double.

   dual ownership;

   dual controls on a plane.

3. having a twofold, or double, character or nature.

4. Grammar.,  being or pertaining to a member of the category of number, as in Old English, Old Russian, or Arabic, that denotes two of the things in question.

noun

Grammar.

1. the dual number.

2. a form in the dual, as Old English git “you two,” as contrasted with ge “you” referring to three or more.

dual

/ ˈdjuːəl /

adjective

1. relating to or denoting two

2. twofold; double

3. (in the grammar of Old English, Ancient Greek, and certain other languages) denoting a form of a word indicating that exactly two referents are being referred to

4. maths logic (of structures or expressions) having the property that the interchange of certain pairs of terms, and usually the distribution of negation, yields equivalent structures or expressions

noun

1. grammar

   1. the dual number

   2. a dual form of a word

verb

1. (tr) to make (a road) into a dual carriageway

Other Word Forms

• dually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dual¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin duālis “containing two, relating to a pair,” equivalent to du(o) two + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dual¹

C17: from Latin duālis concerning two, from duo two

Example Sentences

Enforcement at the local level is the responsibility of 55 county agricultural commissioners, who are appointed by their boards of supervisors and have a dual role of promoting agriculture and enforcing state pesticide safety laws.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That “dual role” allows silver to respond to both manufacturing trends and safe-haven buying, giving it “more torque when both forces align,” said Rhind.

Read more on MarketWatch

This achievement is the reward for over 18 months of graft in which he "took up his pilgrim's staff to convince dual nationals to join the adventure" and worked to improve conditions for the team.

Read more on Barron's

Combining low doses of the drug tirzepatide, a "dual agonist" that works, in part, by activating GLP-1 receptors, with the hormone oxytocin results in weight loss without gastrointestinal side effects in obese rats.

Read more on Science Daily

The merged entity is expected to generate $17 billion in annual revenue, move to a single listing on the New York Stock Exchange and have dual headquarters in Amsterdam and Philadelphia, the companies said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal