tun
noun
a large cask for holding liquids, especially wine, ale, or beer.
tun
1 American
[tuhn]
/ tʌn /
noun
-
a large cask for holding liquids, especially wine, ale, or beer.
-
a measure of liquid capacity, usually equivalent to 252 wine gallons.
verb (used with object)
tunned,
tunning
Tun.
2
American
abbreviation
tun
British
/ tʌn /
noun
-
a large beer cask
-
a measure of capacity, usually equal to 252 wine gallons
-
a cask used during the manufacture of beer
verb
Etymology
Origin of tun
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun tunne, Old English; cognate with Dutch ton, German Tonne (from Low German ), Old Norse tunna; verb from the noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The tardigrade is then said to be in the "tun state."
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2025
It may tun out to be a climactic final act.
From Washington Times • Aug. 22, 2023
Using his typical mix of nasty sliders and biting curveball with a located fastball to keep hitters honest, he didn’t get a tun of help from his defense, which committed two errors.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 26, 2022
Besides this product the remains of five hogsheads of fish will produce one tun of pumice or fish guano, the best fertilizer known, and worth by itself $20 per tun.”
From Scientific American • Jan. 5, 2019
“It’s me, tun, Raymie. Raymie Clarke. I visited Isabelle a couple of days ago, and I was going to do a good deed?”
From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
