◙ (pl. -ies) 1. a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility • （道德或法律上的）责任；义务；职责 »it's my duty to uphold the law. 拥护法律是我的职责。 »she was determined to do her duty as a citizen. 她决定要尽一个公民的义务。 »[mass noun] a strong sense of duty. 强烈的责任感。 [as modifier] (of a visit or other undertaking) done from a sense of moral obligation rather than for pleasure • （拜访等）出于责任感的，出于责任心的 »a fifteen-minute duty visit. 一次15分钟的礼节性拜访。 2. [常作 duties] a task or action that someone is required to perform • 职责，职务 »the queen's official duties. 女王的职责。 »your duties will include operating the switchboard. 你的职责将包括操作交换台。 »[mass noun] Juliet reported for duty. 朱丽叶报到上班。 [as modifier] (of a person) engaged in their regular work • （人）值班 »a duty nurse. 一位值班护士。 [mass noun] (也作 duties)performance of prescribed church services by a priest or minister • （牧师的）行礼拜式 »he was willing to take Sunday duties. 他愿意做星期日的行礼拜式。 3. a payment due and enforced by law or custom, in particular • 税，尤指 4. a payment levied on the import, export, manufacture, or sale of goods • （进出口）关税 »a 6 per cent duty on imports. 一项6％的进口关税。 »[mass noun] goods subject to excise duty. 应交关税的货物。 [Brit.] a payment levied on the transfer of property, for licences, and for the legal recognition of documents • [英] 税（如财产转让税、执照税或印花税） 5. (technical)the measure of an engine's effectiveness in units of work done per unit of fuel • [技] （发动机的）能率，功率
【IDIOMS】
◘ do duty as (或 for) 1. serve or act as a substitute for something else • 代替…之用，充当 »the rusting shack which did duty as the bridge. 当桥用的生锈棚屋。 ◘ on (或 off) duty 1. engaged (or not engaged) in one's regular work • 在（或不在）值班（的），在上（或下了）班（的） »the doorman had gone off duty and the lobby was unattended. 看门人下班了，大厅无人照看。
【语源】
1. late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French duete, from Old French deu (seedue)