dene

D2E1N1E1
/diːn//ˈdɛneɪ/

noun

A valley, especially the deep valley of a stream or rivulet.

Similar
Chipewyan
OriginMiddle English dene ← Old English dene →
Less commonScrabble 5
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Meanings

dene1

noundene (plural denes)

plural denes · alternative dean · alternative den

  1. NorthumbriaA valley, especially the deep valley of a stream or rivulet.

dene2

noundene (plural denes)

plural denes

  1. a sand dune by the seashore

Dene3

nounDene pl (plural only)

alternative Dené

  1. pluralplural onlyAn Athabascan people of Canada, especially of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

    In the Northwest Territories, the languages with official status are English, French, Dëne Sųłıné (Chipewyan), Nēhiyawēwin (Cree), Dene Kǝdǝ́ (Northern Slavey), Dene Zhatıé (Southern Slavey), Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik (Gwich’in), Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłįcho.

    2025, Marie-Ève Hudon, Language regimes in the Provinces and the Territories, Ottawa, Canada: Library of Parliament, page 30

    Synonyms: Chipewyan

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn Athabascan people of Canada, especially of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Similar
Chipewyan
Also see
chipewyan

Origin

dene · noun

  1. Old Englishdene
  2. Middle Englishdene
  3. Englishdene

From Middle English dene, from Old English dene.

More words from Middle English, Old English

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dene · noun

Perhaps related to Middle Low German düne (“dune”).

Full word history & related roots →

Dene · noun

  1. Athabaskan
  2. EnglishDene

Probably from Chipewyan, though most Athabaskan languages have a similar word meaning "person" that's often used as the name for the people who speak the language and/or the language itself. Doublet of Diné.

More words from Athabaskan

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Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with dene

beenbetweengreenmagazinemeanseenscreenmachinecleangenescenedeanjeanroutineHalloweenbeancuisinevaccineEugeneChristineleanfifteengasolinekeen
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

deanDeanedeanDeane

Anagrams

neededenendedeen
Cite this entry
APA

dene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dene

MLA

“dene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dene.

Source: dene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.