* Noun: When used to refer to a person, usually male, especially a young man.
* Example: "That dude over there is really funny."
* Interjection: When used as an exclamation, usually to express surprise, agreement, or greeting.
* Example: "Dude, you won't believe what happened!"
* Adjective: Sometimes used informally to mean cool or excellent.
* Example: "That's a dude car!"
So, it's important to look at the sentence to determine the specific function of "dude."