Tunnel: meaning, definitions and examples

The term tunnel is used to describe a large, often long passage that is dug through the ground or rock, typically for transportation purposes such as cars, trains, or even pedestrians.

• The train traveled through the mountain tunnel for several minutes.
• They were stuck in traffic while driving through the tunnel.

Passage refers to a narrow way that allows people to move from one place to another, often inside buildings or between rooms. It can also be used more abstractly to describe a segment of text.

• The secret passage led them to an underground hideout.
• Please read the passage from the book before our discussion.

Underpass is used to describe an underground passage that allows pedestrians or vehicles to pass beneath an obstacle, such as a road or railway.

• We walked through the underpass to avoid crossing the busy street.
• The highway underpass was flooded after the heavy rain.

Subway is primarily used in urban settings to describe an underground train system used for public transportation. It can also refer to a tunnel or underpass used by pedestrians.

• She took the subway to work every day.
• We used the subway to cross the busy street.

Used when referring to a passage or a route that is dug through a natural or artificial obstacle such as a hill, building, or mountain.

• The workers constructed a tunnel through the mountain to make travel easier.
• The secret tunnel was used to escape from the castle.

Commonly used to describe the act of making a hole in the ground, often with a shovel or hands. It is more general and less formal, sometimes implying effort.

• The kids decided to dig a hole in the backyard.
• He had to dig through the soil to plant the tree.

Used when referring more to a mechanical process, often involving a machine, to create precise holes or tunnels in hard materials.

• The engineers need to bore through the concrete wall.
• They are using special equipment to bore a tunnel.

Often used in archaeological, construction, or scientific contexts to describe the methodical process of digging and removing earth to uncover something of interest.

• Archaeologists excavated the ancient ruins.
• The site was excavated to build the new foundation.