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
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.
About 75% of Kalshi’s volume in April came from sports-related prediction markets, according to data from Dune.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
So was director Denis Villeneuve, who said Dune: Part III is more of a thriller than the first two instalments.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
"For instance, one specimen looks a lot like the sand worm from Dune!"
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
Kalshi and Polymarket each see around $2 billion in weekly volume, according to data on Dune.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026
The teens went missing last TXiesday night after a party at Driana Gonzaga’s home on Dune Road.
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.
