duet

American  

[doo-et, dyoo-] / duˈɛt, dyu- /

noun

1. a musical composition for two voices or instruments.

---

duet British  

/ djuːˈɛt /

noun

1. Also called (esp for instrumental compositions): duo.  a musical composition for two performers or voices

2. an action or activity performed by a pair of closely connected individuals

---

verb

1. (intr) to perform a duet

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• duettist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of duet

1730–40; earlier duett < Italian duetto, equivalent to du ( o ) duet + -etto -et

Compare meaning

How does duet compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• duo vs. duet

Explanation

A duet is two people singing or playing musical instruments together. You and your brother might be a popular sidewalk duet with your fiddle-accordion combo. If you have tickets for a musical duet, you'll be watching and listening to two performers. You can also call the composition that's written for the two of them a duet, since it has parts for two instruments. Two dancers can also perform a duet, a dance especially choreographed for a couple. Duet stems from the Italian duetto, "musical composition for two voices," from duo, or "two."

Related Words

• duo