tunnel

B2 Topic:Nature & Landscape

US /ˈtʌn(ə)l/ See IPA manual

Freq #2949

Meanings

1

noun
A passage built under the ground or through a hill, often for trains, cars, or people.

The tunnel reduced congestion at the narrow intersection.
2

noun
A hole dug under the ground by an animal for shelter.

The rabbit disappeared into a tunnel beneath the hedge.
3

verb
To dig a passage through or under something.

The miners tunnelled through the rock to reach the gold.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a hole dug under the ground... burrow

3 verb · to dig a passage through or... burrow

Word family

Forms tunneledtunnelingtunnelledtunnellingtunnellingstunnels

Derived forms bridge-and-tunnelcross-tunneltunnel-visionedtunneller

Appears in

Phrases (1)

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railroad tunnel
a tunnel built to carry railway tracks

Noun + noun

Idioms (1)

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light at the end of the tunnel
A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.

Proverbs (2)

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Simplified etymology

Tunnel entered English in the late Middle English period from French tonel, literally a small ton or tun—that is, a small cask. Its English sense later passed back into French.

Etymology

From Middle French tonnelle (“net”) or tonel (“cask”), diminutive of Old French tonne (“cask”), a word of uncertain origin and affiliation. Related to Old English tunne (“tun; cask; barrel”). More at tun.

tonnelle Middle French tonne Old French

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Topics

Nature & Landscape

External links

# tunnel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈtʌn(ə)l/
**Frequency rank:** 2949

## Meanings
1. A passage built under the ground or through a hill, often for trains, cars, or people.
2. A hole dug under the ground by an animal for shelter.
3. To dig a passage through or under something.

## Examples
- The tunnel reduced congestion at the narrow intersection.
- The rabbit disappeared into a tunnel beneath the hedge.
- The miners tunnelled through the rock to reach the gold.

## Derived Forms
- bridge-and-tunnel
- cross-tunnel
- tunnel-visioned
- tunneller

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: tonnelle
- Root: tonne

## Etymology
From Middle French tonnelle (“net”) or tonel (“cask”), diminutive of Old French tonne (“cask”), a word of uncertain origin and affiliation. Related to Old English tunne (“tun; cask; barrel”). More at tun.

## AI Etymology
Tunnel is from Middle French tonnelle (“net”) or tonel (“cask”), diminutive of Old French tonne (“cask”), a word of uncertain origin and affiliation. Related to Old English tunne (“tun; cask; barrel”). More at tun. The historical line also includes Middle French tonnelle, Old French tonne. In present-day use, it can mean a passage built under the ground or through a hill, often for trains, cars, or people, or a hole dug under the ground by an animal for shelter. Derived formations include bridge-and-tunnel, cross-tunnel, tunnel-visioned, tunneller.

## Topics
- Nature & Landscape

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tunnel

Meanings

Verb forms

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (1)

Idioms (1)

Proverbs (2)

Simplified etymology

Etymology

Topics

External links

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