duty
du·ty / ˈd(y)oōtē/ • n. (pl. -ties) 1. a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility: it's my duty to uphold the law | she was determined to do her duty as a citizen | a strong sense of duty. ∎ [as adj.] (of a visit or other undertaking) done from a sense of moral obligation rather than for pleasure: a fifteen-minute duty visit.2. (often duties) a task or action that someone is required to perform: the queen's official duties| your duties will include sweeping the switchboard | Juliet reported for duty. ∎ military service: combat duty in the army. ∎ [as adj.] (of a person) engaged in their regular work: a duty nurse. ∎ (also duties) performance of prescribed church services by a priest or minister: he was willing to take Sunday duties.3. a payment due and enforced by law or custom, in particular: ∎ a payment levied on the import, export, manufacture, or sale of goods: a 6 percent duty on imports | goods subject to excise duty. 4. technical the measure of an engine's effectiveness in units of work done per unit of fuel.PHRASES: do duty as (or for) serve or act as a substitute for something else: her mug was doing duty as a wine glass.on (or off) duty engaged (or not engaged) in one's regular work: the doorman had gone off duty and the lobby was unattended.