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tun·nel

(tŭnəl)

1. An underground or underwater passage.

2. A passage through or under a barrier such as a mountain.

3. A tube-shaped structure.

v. tun·neled, tun·nel·ing, tun·nels or tun·nelled or tun·nel·ling

v.tr.

1. To make a tunnel through or under: tunneling the granite.

2. To produce, shape, or dig in the form of a tunnel: tunnel a passageway out of prison.

v.intr.

To make a tunnel.

[Middle English tonel, barrel, tubular net, from Old French tonnel, diminutive of tonne, tun, possibly of Celtic origin.]

tunnel·er, tunnel·ler n.

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tunnel

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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