tunnel
Hole through mountain
A tunnel is a passage cut through or under an obstacle—earth, rock, or water.
Tunnels carry roads, railways, and utilities through mountains and beneath rivers.
Animals tunnel through soil.
To tunnel is to dig such a passage.
Figuratively, tunnel vision describes narrow focus that excludes peripheral awareness.
Light at the end of the tunnel suggests hope after difficulty.
Enclosed connecting walkway
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- thoroughfareMain public road
route · access · conduit · entrance · exit · portal · opening · pathway
Track system for trains
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- metroUrban rail transit
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- freightGoods being transported
transit · commute · locomotive · traffic · infrastructure · corridor · route · Chunnel
Subterranean insectivore
- gopherBurrowing North American rodent
- rabbitLong-eared lagomorph
- badgerNag persistently
- groundhogNorth American burrowing marmot
prairie dog · earthworm · warren · den · hole · excavate · digging · underground
Narrow vertical passage
- aditHorizontal mine opening
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- stopeUnderground ore excavation
- crosscutPerpendicular timber cut
airway · ventilation · ore · seam · vein · extraction · coal · headframe
Failing to engage interest
- excavationAct of unearthing
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- geotechnicalRelating to soil engineering
- reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
lining · segmental · cut-and-cover · TBM · shielding · ventilation · waterproofing · grouting
Confinement for offenders
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
elude · flee · POW · Alcatraz · dig · secret · hidden · covert
Surrounded and sealed within
- narrowOf small width
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
- confinedKept within bounds
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
suffocating · anxiety · panic · trapped · airless · oppressive · dark · dread
Final portion or cessation
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- darknessTotal absence of light
- emergenceComing into existence
breakthrough · optimism · journey · perseverance · relief · despair · struggle · patience
Concentrated attention point
- narrowOf small width
- restrictedLimited in scope
- peripheralExternal computer add-on
- blindnessAbsence of vision
concentration · fixation · single-minded · obsession · myopic · blinkered · awareness · perception
corridor
Enclosed connecting walkway
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
thoroughfare · route · access · conduit · entrance · exit · portal · opening · pathway · traverse
railway
Track system for trains
freight · transit · commute · locomotive · traffic · infrastructure · corridor · route · Chunnel · bore
mole
Subterranean insectivore
groundhog · prairie dog · earthworm · warren · den · hole · excavate · digging · underground · nest
shaft
Narrow vertical passage
crosscut · airway · ventilation · ore · seam · vein · extraction · coal · headframe · pithead
boring
Failing to engage interest
- excavationAct of unearthing
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- geotechnicalRelating to soil engineering
reinforcement · lining · segmental · cut-and-cover · TBM · shielding · ventilation · waterproofing · grouting · shotcrete
prison
Confinement for offenders
getaway · elude · flee · POW · Alcatraz · dig · secret · hidden · covert · clandestine
enclosed
Surrounded and sealed within
cramped · suffocating · anxiety · panic · trapped · airless · oppressive · dark · dread · fear
end
Final portion or cessation
emergence · breakthrough · optimism · journey · perseverance · relief · despair · struggle · patience · reward
focus
Concentrated attention point
- narrowOf small width
- restrictedLimited in scope
- peripheralExternal computer add-on
blindness · concentration · fixation · single-minded · obsession · myopic · blinkered · awareness · perception · sight
- earth-relatedrock, stone, sand, mud, dirt
- railroadstrains, train, tracks, track, locomotive
- Burrowersaardvark, aardvarks, badger, badgers, gopher
- burrowsburrow, rabbit warren, warren, fox den, den
- excavationdig, excavation, excavating, excavator, digging
- mini golfputter, golf ball, hole, putt, putting green
- tunnel visionInability to see periphery
- light at the end of the tunnelIndication difficulties will end
- wind tunnelControlled airstream apparatus
- secret tunnelConcealed underground or walled route
- carpal tunnelWrist's nerve passageway
- underground tunnelsEnclosed routes below ground
tunnels, tunneled, tunneling, tunnelled, tunnelling, tunnel vision, tunnellike, tunneler, tunnelers