dune

noun

ˈdün 

also ˈdyün

: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind

dunelike

ˈdün-ˌlīk 

also ˈdyün-

adjective

Examples of dune in a Sentence

We wandered over the dunes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Optional bodyside graphics use overlapping pink and magenta shapes to create an abstract interpretation of Utah’s lakes, dunes and desert horizon. — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

About 25 people participated in the Friday evening walk on one of Seman’s favorite trails — the number 9 and 10 trails at Indiana Dunes State Park that lead to a dune ridge with a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Part of the beach is located in the Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills Nature Reserve, which has walking paths and is home to rare species like the Natterjack toad as well as wildflowers such as the dune helleborine and yellow glandweed. — Lila Harron Battis, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

Titan is a geologically active world cloaked in an atmosphere denser than Earth's, its landscape shaped by seas of liquid methane and vast dunes built from organic particles that rain out of its skies. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English dūn down — more at down

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dune

• dune buggy
• sand dune

Rhymes for dune

• boon
• brune
• coon
• croon
• goon
• hewn
• hoon
• june
• loon
• moon
• noon
• poon

Kids Definition

dune

noun

ˈd(y)ün 

: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind