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

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 draa longitudinal dune seif dune transverse 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

Norris sat on the dunes beside the seaside Zandvoort circuit, helmet on, with his head in his hands after climbing out of his stricken McLaren, as he digested the ramifications of his retirement.

From BBC

The dunes are now said to not include enough special features.

From BBC

The resort has prompted controversy in the past - five years ago the dunes at Menie lost their status as a nationally-important protected environment.

From BBC

Earlier, two large groups of people already wearing orange life jackets had emerged from the nearby dunes and rushed towards the sea.

From BBC

They say failed rocket launches have spread concrete and metal debris across thousands of feet of surrounding lands — and once set off a fire that burned several acres of protected dunes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• knoll 
• ridge 
• sand dune www.thesaurus.com