| 1. | something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation. |
| 2. | the binding or obligatory force of something that is morally or legally right; moral or legal obligation. |
| 3. | an action or task required by a person's position or occupation; function: the duties of a clergyman. |
| 4. | the respectful and obedient conduct due a parent, superior, elder, etc. |
| 5. | an act or expression of respect. |
| 6. | a task or chore that a person is expected to perform: It's your duty to do the dishes. |
| 7. | Military.
|
| 8. | Commerce. a specific or ad valorem tax imposed by law on the import or export of goods. |
| 9. | a payment, service, etc., imposed and enforceable by law or custom. |
| 10. | Chiefly British. tax: income duty. |
| 11. | Machinery.
|
| 12. | Agriculture. the amount of water necessary to provide for the crop in a given area. |
| 13. | Baby Talk. bowel movement. |
| 14. | do duty, to serve the same function; substitute for: bookcases that do duty as room dividers. |
| 15. | off duty, not at one's post or work; at liberty: They spent their days off duty in hiking and fishing. |
| 16. | on duty, at one's post or work; occupied; engaged: He was suspended from the force for being drunk while on duty. |
du·ty (dōō'tē, dyōō'-) n. pl. du·ties
[Middle English duete, from Anglo-Norman, from due, variant of Old French deu, due; see due.] |
A tax charged by a government, especially on an import.
duty
In addition to the idiom beginning with duty, also see above and beyond (the call of duty); active duty do one's duty; double duty; off duty; on duty.