English Reference
noun · verb

duet

n. · v.
US /djuˈɛt/ UK /djuːˈɛt/ duet UK spelling duets

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Music

    n.a song or piece of music played or sung by two people together.

    n.a musical composition for two performers, where each part is of equal importance.

    Simple

    The two singers performed a beautiful duet that ended the concert.

    In context

    The pianist and the cellist rehearsed the complex duet for weeks to ensure their timing was perfectly synchronized for the recital.

    duo
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.two people who work well together or look good as a pair.

    n.a pair or couple, particularly one characterized by harmony or elegance.

    Simple

    The salt and pepper shakers make a charming duet on the dining table.

    In context

    The two lead actors were a formidable duet, their chemistry driving the emotional core of the entire production.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    v.when two animals, like birds, sing to each other to communicate.

    v.to communicate via coordinated vocalizations, typically for territory defense or pair-bonding.

    Simple

    In the forest, we could hear the two owls duet across the trees.

    In context

    Many tropical bird species duet to maintain their pair bond and defend their shared territory from rivals.


PIE word *dwóh₁ From Italian duetto (“short musical composition for two voices”), diminutive of due (“two”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Italian duetto
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated