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to tunnel

to tunnel

27 3.5
To dig a passage under something
  • verb
  • /ˈtʌnəl/
: excavar
  • The miners needed to tunnel deeper to reach the gold vein underneath the mountain.

But you have to be aware that you can tunnel through barriers.

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Examples

Synonyms

to dig
vsto tunnel
652 1.0

To move earth with a tool to make a hole

focuses on creating or moving through a passage rather than any hole
to burrow
vsto tunnel
39 4.0

To move through something by digging a hole or tunnel

is used by people and machines as a general passage making action
to dig out
vsto tunnel
36 3.2

Remove something that is under the ground or snow using a shovel

is about making a continuous passage by moving through earth rather than clearing items
to excavate
vsto tunnel
12 6.0

To make a hole by removing earth or rock

involves making a through passage rather than just hollowing a cavity
to drive
vsto tunnel
  • Specialized
1 8.2

To dig a tunnel through rock or earth

is not limited to horizontal work and applies to any dug passage

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To make a place full by putting people or things into it

989 3.0

To stop movement, access, or progress

Idioms

A sign that a hard time will soon end or get better

Phrasal Verbs

to quantum tunnel
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A tiny particle goes through a barrier it normally cannot cross

Compounds

tunnel vision
  • Specialized
13 7.1

Loss of side vision so you can only see what is in front

wind tunnel
  • Specialized
10 4.4

A large machine that moves air to test how it affects objects like cars or planes

A passage built under the ground for people or vehicles to pass through

7 3.5

A feeling of pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand caused by a nerve being squeezed in the wrist

carpal tunnel
  • Specialized
2 3.5

A narrow passage on the palm side of the wrist that carries nerves and tendons

A train tunnel under the sea that connects England and France

1 3.5

A tunnel built for trains to pass through hills or under cities

1 9.3

People who travel into a city from outside to go out for fun

How Extensive

to excavate
12 6.0
to tunnel
27 3.5
to dig
652 1.0
burrow
19 2.7
to bore
8 4.9

Surface Forms

tunnel infinitive
tunneled past
tunneled past participle
tunneling present participle
tunnels third person singular

Etymology

The verb tunnel comes from the same old French root tonnel meaning 'barrel', so to tunnel is simply to dig a long, tube-like passage under or through something.