duty

Universal Words noun (plural duties) 1 [C,U] something that you feel you have to do because it is your moral or legal responsibility: It is my duty to report it to the police. * Local councillors have a duty to serve the community. * I don't want you to visit me simply out of a sense of duty. * your duties as a parent * to do your duty for your country * I'll have to go I'm afraid-duty calls. * The company owes a duty of care to its customers. 2 [U] the work that is your job: Report for duty at 8 a.m. seealsoNIGHTDUTY 3 (duties) [pl.] tasks that are part of your job: I spend a lot of my time on administrative duties. * Your duties will include setting up a new computer system. seealsoHEAVY-DUTY 4 [C,U] ~ (on sth) a tax that you pay on things that you buy especially those that you bring into a country: customs / excise / import duties * duty on wine and beer seealsoDEATHDUTY, STAMPDUTY IDIOMS on / off duty (of nurses, police officers, etc.) working/not working at a particular time: Who's on duty today? * What time do you go off duty? seealsoOFF-DUTY moreatBOUNDEN, LINEn.