tunneling
Americannoun
-
the act or process of creating a tunnel.
-
Physics. in quantum mechanics, the phenomenon in which a particle passes through a potential barrier that it would not be able to cross under classical physics; the probability of tunneling depends on the thickness of the barrier and the energy of the particle.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Access to 11 countries, AES-256 encryption with WireGuard, plus extras like split tunneling and Stealth protocol.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
Researchers also identified a protein called MYO10 as critical for creating the tunneling nanotubes that allow mitochondria to move between cells.
From Science Daily • May 24, 2026
This compact book weaves together topics including the microscopic quantum tunneling required for nuclear fusion and the macroscopic geometry of spacetime.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Waxman ultimately struck a compromise with Rep. Julian Dixon that allowed the project to proceed but prohibited tunneling in the Fairfax area for 20 years.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
Mulch had a prodigious appetite for tunneling, and that, unfortunately, is a literal translation.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
![]()
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.