duty
( duties plural )
1 n-uncount Duty is work that you have to do for your job.
Staff must report for duty at their normal place of work..., My duty is to look after the animals.
2 n-plural Your duties are tasks which you have to do because they are part of your job.
I carried out my duties conscientiously...
3 n-sing If you say that something is your duty, you believe that you ought to do it because it is your responsibility.
oft with poss
I consider it my duty to write to you and thank you.
4 n-var Duties are taxes which you pay to the government on goods that you buy.
Import duties still average 30%., ...customs duties...
5 If someone such as a policeman or a nurse is off duty, they are not working. If someone is on duty, they are working. ♦
off duty, on duty phrase PHR after v, v-link PHR I'm off duty..., Extra staff had been put on duty.
active duty
Active duty means the same as active service.
(mainly AM) n-uncount oft on N
dereliction of duty
Dereliction of duty is deliberate or accidental failure to do what you should do as part of your job.
FORMAL n-uncount
(=negligence)
He pleaded guilty to wilful dereliction of duty.
duty-bound , duty bound
If you say you are duty-bound to do something, you are emphasizing that you feel it is your duty to do it.
FORMAL adj v-link ADJ to-inf (emphasis)
I felt duty bound to help.
duty-free
Duty-free goods are sold at airports or on planes or ships at a cheaper price than usual because you do not have to pay import tax on them. adj
...duty-free cigarettes.
duty-free shop ( duty-free shops plural ) A duty-free shop is a shop, for example at an airport, where you can buy goods at a cheaper price than usual, because no tax is paid on them. n-count
heavy-duty
A heavy-duty piece of equipment is very strong and can be used a lot. adj usu ADJ n
...a heavy duty polythene bag...
off-duty
When someone such as a soldier or policeman is off-duty, they are not working. adj
The place is the haunt of off-duty policemen.
stamp duty
In Britain, stamp duty is a tax that you pay to the government when you buy a house. n-uncount