noun
pl. -·ties- the obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
- conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety: one's duty to vote
- any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position: the duties of a secretary
- a sense or feeling of obligation: duty calls
- service, esp. military service: overseas duty
- a payment due to the government, esp. a tax imposed on imports, exports, or manufactured goods
- Brit. the performance of a machine as measured by the output of work per unit of fuel
- the amount of work that a machine is meant to do; rated efficiency under specified conditions
- Agric. the amount of water needed for irrigation per acre per cropalso duty of water
- an assigned period of responsibility, as a watch or sentry duty: often used attributively: a duty sergeant
Origin of duty
Middle English duete from Anglo-French dueté, what is due (owing): see due and -tyduty Idioms
do duty for
to substitute for; serve as
on (or off) duty
officially engaged (or not officially engaged) in one's duties
