du·ty /ˈdjuːti $ ˈduː-/ ●●● S2 W1 noun (plural duties) 1 STH you must do 应做的事情 [countableC, uncountableU]SHOULD/OUGHT TO something that you have to do because it is morally or legally right 〔道德或法律上的〕义务,责任 SYN obligation I promise I will do my duty. 我保证会尽到我的责任。
We feel it is our duty to help her. 我们感到帮助她是我们的责任。
Local authorities have a duty to keep the streets clean. 地方当局有责任保持街道整洁。
You have a duty to your husband and to your children. 你对你丈夫和孩子负有责任。
She has a strong sense of moral duty. 她的道德责任感很强。
The unions have failed in their duty to female workers. 工会未能对女职工尽到责任。
In the traditional Hindu family, the son is duty-bound to look after his mother. 在传统的印度家庭里,儿子负有照顾母亲的责任。
2 work 工作JOB/TASK [countableC usually plural, uncountableU] something you have to do as part of your job 〔工作〕职责,义务duties Martin’s duties included cleaning the cars. 马丁的职责包括清洗汽车。
She works for her father doing part-time secretarial duties. 她为她父亲做兼职的秘书工作。
He will soon be fit enough to carry out his duties (=do his job). 他很快就能康复起来重新工作。
He can only do light duties. 他只能干点轻活。
When Juliet reported for duty (=arrived and said she was ready to start work) she was sent to check on a new patient. 朱丽叶报到上班后被派去检查一名新病人。
A teacher may be fired for neglect of duty (=failing to do their job properly). 教师会因失职被开除。
He did three tours of duty in Vietnam (=three periods working in a foreign country as a soldier, government officer etc). 他曾三次在越南服役。
3 be on/off duty to be working or not working at a particular time, especially when you are doing a job which people take turns to do, so that someone is always doing it 值班[值勤]/下班[不值勤] He’s on night duty. 他在值夜班。
Mary goes on duty (=starts working) tonight at half past ten. 玛丽今晚10点半上班。
What time do you go off duty (=finish work)? 你什么时候下班?
4 tax 税 [countableC, uncountableU]PET a tax you pay on something you buy 〔购物缴纳的〕税duty on the duty on cigarettes 香烟税
customs duty (=tax paid on goods coming into the country) 关税
→ death duties, stamp duty 5 do duty as something USE somethingto be used as something 用以充当[代替]某物 SYN serve as something The living room also does duty as a home office. 起居室也用作家庭办公室。
→ double duty, heavy-duty, → jury duty at jury service, → on active duty at active servicen COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: something that you have to do because it is morally or legally rightverbshave a duty to do somethingParents have a duty to make sure that their children receive an education.
do your dutyI felt I had done my duty by voting.
fulfil your duty British EnglishBrE, fulfill your duty American EnglishAmE formal (=do what is needed)The school has failed to fulfil its legal duty towards students.
have/owe a duty to somebodyA tenant owes a duty to the landlord to keep the house in reasonable condition.
fail in your duty (=not do something that you should do)I would be failing in my duty if I didn't warn you of the dangers.
adjectivesa moral dutyShe felt it was her moral duty to treat everyone equally.
a legal dutyEmployers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their workforce.
a statutory duty (=required by law)Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that parks are clean.
a public duty (=relating to the people of a country)The media has a public duty to report the truth.
a civic duty (=done because you live in a place)It is your civic duty to vote.
phrasesa sense of dutyHe was caring for his parents out of a sense of duty rather than love.
be duty-bound to do something formal (=have a duty to do something)Soldiers are here to do a job and are duty-bound to complete it.
n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: something you have to do as part of your jobverbscarry out your duties (also perform/discharge your duties formal) (=do your job)She has always carried out her duties efficiently.
take up your duties (=start doing a new job)Neale has agreed a three-year contract and takes up his duties on March 1.
resume your duties (=start doing your job again)She hopes to be well enough to resume her duties next week.
report for duty (=arrive and be ready to start work)You must report for duty at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
neglect/shirk your duties (=not do your job properly)No soldier can be allowed to neglect his duties.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + duty official dutiesThe new president will take up his official duties next month.
presidential/royal/ministerial etc duties (=duties that go with being a president, member of a royal family, a minister etc)The prince is now old enough to carry out royal duties.
household/domestic duties (=jobs you have to do around the house)My husband and I share most of the household duties.
light duties (=not involving hard physical work)He'd been wounded, sent home and put on light duties.
guard duty (=job of guarding a place)There were two soldiers on guard duty outside the embassy.
phrasesneglect of duty (=failing to do your job properly)Six police officers were fired for neglect of duty.
a tour of duty (=period of working in another country as a soldier, government officer etc)He became a General, and his tours of duty included Korea and Vietnam.
beyond the call of duty (=more than you have to do as part of your job)She's a doctor who has gone beyond the call of duty in her care for her patients.
in the course of duty (=while doing your job, especially for your country)Stewart received a medal for outstanding bravery in the course of duty.