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

Since its arrival in orbit around Mars on March 10, 2006, MRO has snapped more than 100,000 images of the surface below and helped NASA track geologic activity like migrating dunes, impact craters, avalanches, dust storms and seasonal frost changes. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026

When the Great Highway was open to vehicles, officials said the cost of removing sand and reshaping the dunes was about $860,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 and $420,000 in fiscal year 2023-24. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

The environmental plan includes restoring more than 33 acres of wetlands, revitalizing coastal dunes and mangrove ecosystems, and expanding bird habitats. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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

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