Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An underground rail tunnel that runs below the English Channel and connects Great Britain and France.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun informal The Channel Tunnel.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the railroad tunnel between France and England under the English Channel

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[ch(annel) + (t)unnel.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Blend of Channel and Tunnel

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Examples

  • It hasn't, and today the 31. 4-mile Chunnel is owned by private company Eurotunnel, which operates at about 50% of capacity and is hoping to increase profits by luring more passengers.

    High-Speed Competition 2010

  • The books proudly boast about the "Chunnel" -- the tunnel between England and France -- as a work in progress.

    guampdn.com - Local News 2008

  • For instance, “central Asia” might allocate funds to build parallel high speed rail lines, passenger and cargo, from the Asian Pacific coast to a rail link on the English Channel, called the Chunnel, then on to Londontown, and have it all done by 2018.

    Matthew Yglesias » Books-a-Million 2010

  • Many Britons think the Chunnel is a great idea for IRA bombers.

    Why Do Brits Hate The Chunnel? 2008

  • No word yet on the extent of the damage or when the so-called Chunnel could be reopened to traffic.

    CNN Transcript Sep 11, 2008 2008

  • And we have been telling you about this story out of British newspaper report on an alleged terror plot against the Chunnel, that is the 31-mile underwater tunnel connecting Britain and France.

    CNN Transcript Dec 24, 2006 2006

  • A 2008 nonfatal fire in the Channel Tunnel also known as the Chunnel between England and France, destroyed 750 meters of concrete lining.

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • Channel Tunnel link closed after Eurostar trains break down THE Channel Tunnel link between Britain and mainland Europe, colloquially known as the Chunnel, was suspended today due to three broken-down Eurostar trains blocking both lines.

    The Australian | News | 2009

  • People inside the 50-kilometer (30-mile) tunnel, known as the Chunnel, were evacuated through a service tunnel that runs between the two train-carrying tunnels, Eurotunnel officials said.

    Top Stories - Google News 2008

  • People inside the 50-kilometer (30-mile) tunnel, known as the Chunnel, were evacuated through a service tunnel that runs between the two train-carrying tunnels, Eurotunnel officials said.

    Top Stories - Google News 2008

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