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

In 2014, the regional nonprofit group SOS Sahel came to Barkadroussou and taught villagers to stabilize the dunes by building palisades of palm fronds. —Julie Bourdin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026

The Earth Tone Collection currently offers several neutral colors—desert sand, warm beige, dune taupe, washed khaki, dusty olive, soft clay, muted terracotta and light stone—and the clients can create other custom colors. —Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026

Stroll two boardwalks along freshwater wetlands and a rare maritime dune woodland. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

The land itself hasn't changed much; the dunes remain shaggy, and the surf still breaks in frothy lines along the sand. —Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 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