Definition of 'duel'

Word Frequency

duel

(djuːəl , US duː- )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense duels , present participle duelling , past tense, past participle duelled regional note: in AM, use dueling, dueled

1. countable noun

A duel is a formal fight between two people in which they use guns or swords in order to settle a quarrel.

He had killed a man in a duel.

Synonyms: single combat, fight, battle, confrontation More Synonyms of duel

2. countable noun

You can refer to a conflict between two people or groups as a duel.

The area has been the scene of sporadic artillery duels over the last six weeks.

3. verb

To duel means to fight a duel or be involved in a conflict.

We duelled for two years and Peterson made the most of it, playing us off against each other. [VERB]

...two silver French duelling pistols. [VERB-ing]

Synonyms: fight, struggle, clash, compete More Synonyms of duel

More Synonyms of duel

Video: pronunciation of 'duel'

Word Frequency

duel in British

(ˈdjuːəl )

noun

a prearranged combat with deadly weapons between two people following a formal procedure in the presence of seconds and traditionally fought until one party was wounded or killed, usually to settle a quarrel involving a point of honour

a contest or conflict between two persons or parties

verbWord forms: duels, duelling, duelledWord forms: US duels, dueling or dueled (intransitive)

to fight in a duel

to contest closely

Derived forms

dueller (ˈdueller) or US dueler (ˈdueler)

noun

duellist (ˈduellist) or US duelist (ˈduelist)

noun

Word origin of 'duel'

C15: from Medieval Latin duellum, from Latin, poetical variant of bellum war; associated by folk etymology with Latin duo two

Word Frequency

duel in American

(ˈduəl ; do̅oˈəl; ˈdjuəl ; dyo̅oˈəl)

noun

a formal fight between two persons armed with deadly weapons: it is prearranged and witnessed by two others, called seconds, one for each combatant

any contest or encounter suggesting such a fight, usually between two persons

a verbal duel

verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdueled or ˈduelled, ˈdueling or ˈduelling

to fight a duel with (a person or persons)

Derived forms

duelist (ˈduelist)

Word origin of 'duel'

ME duelle < ML duellum < OL dvellum (L bellum), war < IE base *dāu-, *deu-, to injure, destroy, burn > Sans dū, pain, OE teona, harm

Example sentences containing 'duel'

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They were expected to renew the duel last night at a meeting called in a last-ditch effort to resurrect the ceasefire. Times, Sunday Times (2016)To lose by so tiny a margin after an epic duel lasting almost two hours was cruel. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Two knights have at each other in what seems almost to be a personal duel. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The spot kick was a duel between the two best players on the pitch. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Men also met there to fight duels. Rodney Bolt HISTORY PLAY: The Lives and After-life of Christopher Marlowe (2004)It was reported this week that the two veteran duelling divas are still at it. The Sun (2007)One of the great duels of the summer is taking place in slow motion in front of us. Times, Sunday Times (2009)This is a relic of the days when you might have to roll them back to fight a duel. Times, Sunday Times (2007)He was notorious for his hot temper and instant readiness to fight a duel with anyone who crossed him. Stewart Lamont WHEN SCOTLAND RULED THE WORLD: The Story of the Golden Age of Genius, Creativity and Exploration (2002)Not to mention our own epic duel on the game, which remains ongoing. The Sun (2014)Many thousands felt let down by their aborted duel at York last month. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The score in their personal duel is 2-2. Times, Sunday Times (2014)He turns cricket into a personal duel, sometimes too much so. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The awful prospect for purists is that Olympic year may become a pantomime duel between the two. Times, Sunday Times (2012)All the pre-match hype was about the duel of the two superstars. The Sun (2013)Fifteen races down in this arduous season, and this championship is being transformed from a mob fight to a duel. Times, Sunday Times (2012)So when you see a great duel between great champions, you should be able to see who has got it and who has not. Times, Sunday Times (2009)French Socialists were struggling to save their party from destruction yesterday after an inconclusive leadership contest sparked a duel to the death between the two contenders. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Public awareness of the great Gold Cup duel is hugely increased. Times, Sunday Times (2008)This is the strange story of what happened before, during and after the last duel fought in Scotland. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Before he left, he earned a footnote in history by fighting the last formal duel on Austrian soil. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Indeed the idea of a great public duel between the two men dissolves on closer examination; in fact, they had little direct contact. Times, Sunday Times (2013)

Trends of 'duel'

Used Occasionally. duel is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'duel'

British English: duel NOUN

A duel is a formal fight between two people in which they use guns or swords in order to settle a quarrel.

He had killed a man in a duel.

American English: duel
Brazilian Portuguese: duelo
Chinese: 双人决斗
European Spanish: duelo
French: duel
German: Duell
Italian: duello
Japanese: 決闘
Korean: 결투
European Portuguese: duelo
Spanish: duelo

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Nearby words of 'duel'

Source

Definition of duel from the Collins English Dictionary

The semicolon ( ; )

The semicolon is used to mark a break between two main clauses when there is a balance or a contrast between the clauses. Compare: The engine roared into life. The propellers began to turn. The p...