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Tunnelled: meaning, definitions and examples

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tunnelled

 

[ ˈtʌn.əld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Tunnelled refers to the past tense of the verb 'tunnel', meaning to dig a tunnel or to create a passage by excavation. It is commonly used in contexts involving construction, mining, or transportation.

Synonyms

burrowed, drilled, excavated

Examples of usage

  • The workers tunnelled through solid rock for the new subway.
  • She tunnelled her way to success by overcoming numerous obstacles.
  • They tunnelled underground to avoid the downpour above.

Translations

Translations of the word "tunnelled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tunelado

🇮🇳 सुरंग खोदना

🇩🇪 tunneliert

🇮🇩 terowongan

🇺🇦 тунельований

🇵🇱 tunelowany

🇯🇵 トンネルされた

🇫🇷 tunnelé

🇪🇸 tunelado

🇹🇷 tünel açılmış

🇰🇷 터널된

🇸🇦 نفق

🇨🇿 tunelovaný

🇸🇰 tunelovaný

🇨🇳 隧道挖掘

🇸🇮 izkopan

🇮🇸 göng

🇰🇿 туннельден

🇬🇪 ტუნელური

🇦🇿 tunel açılmış

🇲🇽 tuneleado

Word origin

The word 'tunnel' originates from the late Middle English term 'tonnel', meaning 'a small barrel' or 'a tunnel'. This term is derived from the Old French 'tonnelle', which in turn comes from 'tone' meaning 'barrel'. The meaning shifted in English to represent a passageway underground by the early 18th century. The verb form 'to tunnel' began to be used around the same time, initially referring to the act of digging or creating a tunnel. The activities of tunnelling have been important in various fields such as mining, civil engineering, and transportation, especially with the development of underground rail systems in the 19th century. The word has evolved in usage and has remained a critical term in the fields of construction and urban development.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,285, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.