dual Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
    double; duple.
    • an egg with a double yolk
    • a double (binary) star
    • double doors
    • dual controls for pilot and copilot
    • duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure
  2. adjective satellite having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities; public preaching and private influence"- R.W.Emerson
    treble; twofold; two-fold; double; three-fold; threefold.
    • a double (or dual) role for an actor
    • the office of a clergyman is twofold
    • every episode has its double and treble meaning"-Frederick Harrison
  3. adjective satellite a grammatical number category referring to two items or units as opposed to one item (singular) or more than two items (plural)
    • ancient Greek had the dual form but it has merged with the plural form in modern Greek

WordNet


Du"al adjective
Etymology
L. dualis, fr. duo two. See Two.
Definitions
  1. Expressing, or consisting of, the number two; belonging to two; as, the dual number of nouns, etc. , in Greek.
    Here you have one half of our dual truth. Tyndall.

Webster 1913