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Synonyms

duo

1 American  
[doo-oh, dyoo-oh] / ˈdu oʊ, ˈdyu oʊ /

noun

plural

duos

  1. Music. duet.

  2. two persons commonly associated with each other; couple.

  3. two animals or objects of the same sort; two things ordinarily placed or found together; a pair.

    a duo of lovebirds.
duo- 2 American  

  1. a combining form meaning “two,” used in the formation of compound words.

    duologue.
duo 1 British  
/ ˈdjuːəʊ /

noun

  1. music

    1. a pair of performers

    2. another word for duet

  2. a pair of actors, entertainers, etc

  3. informal a pair of closely connected individuals

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
duo- 2 British  

combining form

  1. indicating two

    duotone
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does duo- mean? Duo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “two.” It is occasionally used in technical terms.Duo- comes from Greek dýo and Latin duo, both meaning “two.” In fact, English’s own word two is related to these roots! Learn more at our entry at two.

Etymology

Origin of duo1

1580–90; < Italian < Latin: two

Origin of duo-2

Combining form of Greek dýo, Latin duo two

Compare meaning

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

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.

Aussie guitar duo Royel Otis show up to our interview looking artfully crumpled, beers in hand - but all is not quite what it seems.

From BBC

And the duo already have some powerful support behind them.

From Los Angeles Times

Wainwright, 28, is set to become the latest top Wales player to leave Welsh rugby's struggling domestic game after Ospreys duo Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake announced they will join Gloucester for the 2026-27 season.

From BBC

The Edinburgh singer is performing before thousands of people at the city's famous Concert in the Gardens, supporting indie-rock duo Wet Leg as the curtain falls on 2025.

From BBC

Even with their star defensive duo sidelined, Arsenal had the tightest defence in the league, conceding just 12 goals in 19 games - the lowest of any team.

From BBC

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.