dune

[ doon, dyoon ]

noun

1. a sand hill or sand ridge formed by the wind, usually in desert regions or near lakes and oceans.

dune

/ djuːn /

noun

1. a mound or ridge of drifted sand, occurring on the sea coast and in deserts

dune

/ do̅o̅n /

1. 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.
2. See more at barchan dune

Word History and Origins

Origin of dune¹

1780–90; < French, Old French < Middle Dutch dūna; cognate with down ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of dune¹

C18: via Old French from Middle Dutch dūne; see down ³

Example Sentences

ATVs, dune buggies and other off-road vehicles can slam into the slow-moving tortoises with domed shells and heavily scaled, flattened forelimbs used for digging.

From Los Angeles Times

You’ll see egrets and herons in the tidal wetlands of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps even snowy plovers nestling in the dunes or pecking for insects in the wet sand.

From Los Angeles Times

She remembers seeing the woman lying face down in sand dunes, with no obvious signs of injury or struggle.

From BBC

The resort claimed the course would feature the “largest sand dunes in Scotland” and form “the greatest 36 holes in golf” alongside the original course, completed in 2012.

From BBC

Like millions of others, they are destitute, often hungry, living in a tent at al-Mawasi, a desolate area of sand dunes.

From BBC

Related Words

• knoll
• ridge
• sand dune