duty

noun

du·ty | \ ˈdü-tē

also ˈdyü-\

plural duties

Definition of duty

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : conduct due to parents and superiors : respect filial duty and obedience— John Locke

2a : obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) was his duty to support his family Her primary duty at the meeting was to take attendance. performs a variety of administrative duties

b(1) : assigned service or business was put on kitchen duty jury duty

(2) : active military service returning from duty overseas

(3) : a period of being on duty report for duty at 7 a.m.

3a : a moral or legal obligation felt it was their duty to help

b : the force of moral obligation will be ready when duty calls

4 : tax especially : a tax on imports a 15 percent duty

5a : work sense 1c

b(1) : the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions

(2) : functional application : use got double duty out of the trip

(3) : use as a substitute making the word do duty for the thing— Edward Sapir

off duty

: free from assignment or responsibility a police officer who was off duty at the time

on duty

: engaged in or responsible for an assigned task or duty not allowed to take personal calls while on duty

duty

Definition of duty

WORD OF THE DAY