Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: dueté, from Old French deu; DUE1

duty

 noun
     
NEW! See related topics: TAX
du‧ty S1 W1 plural duties
1

something you must do

[uncountable and countable] something that you have to do because it is morally or legally right [= obligation]COLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
do your duty it is somebody's duty to do something have a duty to do something have a duty to somebody/owe somebody a duty sense of duty moral duty legal duty fail in your duty (=fail to do something that you should do for someone) be duty-bound to do something formal (=have a duty to do something)
I promise I will do my duty.
We feel it is our duty to help her.
Local authorities have a duty to keep the streets clean.
You have a duty to your husband and to your children.
She has a strong sense of moral duty.
The unions have failed in their duty to female workers.
In the traditional Hindu family, the son is duty-bound to look after his mother.
2

work

[countable usually plural, uncountable] something you have to do as part of your job
duties
Martin's duties included cleaning the cars.
She works for her father doing part-time secretarial duties.
He will soon be fit enough to carry out his duties (=do his job).
He can only do light duties .
When Juliet reported for duty (=arrived and said she was ready to start work) she was sent to check on a new patient.
A teacher may be fired for neglect of duty (=failing to do their job properly).
He did three tours of duty in Vietnam (=three periods working in a foreign country as a soldier, government officer etc).
3

be on/off duty

to be working or not working at a particular time, especially when you are doing a job which people take turns to do, so that someone is always doing it:
Mary goes on duty (=starts working) tonight at half past ten.
What time do you go off duty (=finish work)?
4

tax

[uncountable and countable]PET a tax you pay on something you buy
duty on
the duty on cigarettes
customs duty (=tax paid on goods coming into the country)
➔ death duties, stamp duty
5

do duty as something

to be used as something [= serve as something]:
The living room also does duty as a home office.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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