tunnel
TUHNL
Tunnel (noun) means an underground or underwater passage, often built for travel. Example: “Cars slowed down as they entered the tunnel under the river.”
noun
1
An underground or underwater passage, often built for travel.
"Cars slowed down as they entered the tunnel under the river."
"The train disappeared into a long tunnel through the mountain."
"Rescuers dug through the rubble to reach a tunnel below the collapsed building."
2
In networking, a method of carrying one protocol's traffic inside another, often for security.
"You can set up a secure tunnel between the two offices."
"Data sent through the tunnel is encrypted, so outsiders cannot read it."
"The remote employees connect through an encrypted VPN tunnel."
verb
1
To dig or build a passage through or under something.
"The prisoners tunnelled under the wall using nothing but spoons."
"Engineers are tunnelling through the hillside to build a new railway line."
"Moles tunnel through soft soil looking for grubs."
How to use tunnel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA passage dug through or under something — literally underground, or figuratively in computing, where data is "tunneled" securely through another connection.
Common pairings
dig a tunnel
tunnel vision
VPN tunnel
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Word forms
- Plural
- tunnels
- Third person singular
- tunnels
- Past tense
- tunneled, tunnelled
Fill the gap
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Cars slowed down as they entered the _____ under the river.
Etymology
From Middle French tonnelle ("net") or tonel ("cask"), related to Old English tunne, the ancestor of "tun."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tunnel
See all rhymes for tunnel →Frequently asked questions
What does “tunnel” mean?
The word “tunnel” means an underground or underwater passage, often built for travel. In plain terms, a passage dug through or under something — literally underground, or figuratively in computing, where data is "tunneled" securely through another connection.
How do you pronounce “tunnel”?
“Tunnel” is pronounced TUHNL (/ˈtʌn(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “tunnel” in a sentence?
Here is “tunnel” used in a sentence: “The train disappeared into a long tunnel through the mountain.”
What part of speech is “tunnel”?
Depending on how it is used, “tunnel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tunnel” come from?
The word “tunnel” comes from Middle French. From Middle French tonnelle ("net") or tonel ("cask"), related to Old English tunne, the ancestor of "tun.".
Is “tunnel” a common word?
“Tunnel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “tunnel” have?
“Tunnel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an underground or underwater passage, often built for travel.
What is the difference between a tunnel and a cave?
A tunnel is a passage that is deliberately dug or built through or under something, usually for travel, whereas a cave is a natural hollow formed in rock or the ground. In short, tunnels are man-made while caves occur naturally, though a natural cave can sometimes be widened into a tunnel.
What is the difference between 'tunnel' and 'burrow'?
A tunnel is a passage dug or built through or under something, often large enough for vehicles, trains, or people, while a burrow is a hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal such as a rabbit for shelter. 'Burrow' almost always refers to animal-made holes, whereas 'tunnel' covers both engineered passages and the act of digging them.
Is 'tunnel' spelled 'tunneling' or 'tunnelling'?
Both are correct depending on the variety of English: British English doubles the L to give 'tunnelling' and 'tunnelled', while American English usually keeps a single L as 'tunneling' and 'tunneled'. The base noun and verb 'tunnel' are spelled the same in both.
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