Dual (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities; "a double (or dual) role for an actor"; "the office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence"- R.W.Emerson; "every episode has its double and treble meaning"-Frederick Harrison.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The dual nature of the company's business model allowed it to thrive in both the tech and finance industries.
- The actor's dual role in the play required her to portray two vastly different characters.
- The dual function of the device made it both a smartphone and a portable music player.
- The professor's dual expertise in physics and philosophy made her a sought-after speaker on the topic of science and ethics.
- The city's dual identity as a historic landmark and a modern metropolis made it a fascinating place to visit.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
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".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The dual form of the verb is used to indicate that exactly two items are being referred to.
- In some languages, the dual is a distinct grammatical number category, separate from the singular and plural.
- The dual form of the noun is used to indicate that there are two of something, as opposed to one or more than two.
- Many languages, including Arabic and Slovenian, still maintain a dual form in their grammar.
- The dual form is often used in formal or poetic language to add emphasis or precision to the number of items being referred to.
Related Words
Meaning 3
Consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs; "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".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The company offers dual citizenship to employees who relocate to their foreign offices.
- The car had dual exhaust pipes, which improved its performance and sound.
- Dual diagnosis treatment centers cater to patients with both a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder.
- The university's dual degree program allows students to earn two bachelor's degrees in five years.
- The aircraft had dual control yokes, allowing the instructor to easily take control of the plane if needed.