Tunnel Meaning and Definition

Tunnel

Tunnel

Pronunciation

/ˈtʌnəl/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A submerged or underground passage, usually made of stone or concrete, between two points.

Examples

  • They took the tunnel to get to the other side of the city.
  • The museum is built on top of an abandoned tunnel.

Synonyms

  • Passage
  • Underpass

Antonyms

  • Bridge
  • Overpass

Etymology

The word “tunnel” comes from the Old English “tunnel”, derived from the Proto-Germanic “*tunniliz”, which is related to the Proto-Indo-European “*dhen-” meaning “to stretch” or “to pierce”.

Usage Notes

The word “tunnel” is commonly used to describe underground passageways, such as sewer tunnels or rail tunnels, as well as underwater tunnels, like the Channel Tunnel.

Cultural References

Tunnels have appeared in popular culture in movies such as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Tunnel”, and in video games like “Resident Evil” and “Tunnel B1”.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

There are no common idiomatic expressions or phrases that include the word “tunnel”.

Related Words or Phrases

Words or phrases closely related in meaning or usage to “tunnel” include “passage”, “underpass”, “bridge”, and “overpass”.

Collocations

Common collocations with the term “tunnel” include “tunnel vision”, “tunnel effect”, and “tunnel bore”.

Frequency of Use

The word “tunnel” is commonly used in modern language, particularly in the context of transportation infrastructure and construction.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of the word “tunnel” include “tunel”, “tunell”, and “tunneling”.

Related Words