tun Meaning & Definition
What Does Tun Mean?
Tun is used as a symbol meaning ISO 639-3 language code for Tunica. As a noun, it means A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask. (See a diagram comparing cask sizes.). As a verb, it means To put into tuns, or casks.
Word Facts for Tun
| Part of speech | symbol, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //tʌn// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Plural | tuns |
| Verb forms | tuns, tunning, tunned |
Tun Definition (Symbol)
- ISO 639-3 language code for Tunica.
Tun as a Noun
- A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask. (See a diagram comparing cask sizes.)
- A fermenting vat.
- A traditional unit of liquid measure (from the volume of such a cask) equal to 252 wine gallons or 2 pipes.
- Synonym of long ton: a unit of mass equal to 2240 pounds, 20 hundredweights of 112 pounds avoirdupois each.
- Synonym of ton: any extremely or excessively large amount.
- Synonym of drunkard: a person who drinks excessively.
- Any shell belonging to Tonna and allied genera.
- The cryptobiotic state of a tardigrade, when its metabolism is temporarily suspended.
- A small silver cup holding half a pint, sometimes having a whistle in the handle that could not be blown until the cup was empty.
- a chimney.
Tun as a Verb
- To put into tuns, or casks.
Noun
- A part of the ancient Maya Long Count Calendar system which corresponds to 18 winal cycles or 360 days.
Noun
- A respectful term of address to royalties and certain award recipients
Synonyms of Tun
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Tun synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Tun
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Tun in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
tun (plural tuns)
tun (third-person singular simple present tuns, present participle tunning, simple past and past participle tunned)
tun (plural tuns or tunob)
Origin of Tun
Origin 1: From Middle English tunne, tonne (“cask, barrel”), from Old English tunne (“tun, cask, barrel”), from Proto-West Germanic *tunnā (“tun, barrel, cask”), from Latin tunna, probably of Gaulish origin.
Origin 2: Cognate with North Frisian tenn (“tun, barrel, cask”), Dutch ton (“tun, barrel, cask”), German Tonne (“tun, barrel, drum”), Danish tønde (“barrel”), Swedish tunna (“barrel, cask, tun”), Icelandic tunna (“barrel”). Compare also Old French tonne, French tonneau (“ton, barrel”), Medieval Latin tunna (“cask”), Middle Irish tunna (“cask”), Welsh tynell (“tun, barrel”). It is uncertain whether the Germanic or the Celtic forms are the original.
Origin 3: From Mayan. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Origin 4: Borrowed from Malay tun.
Pronouncing Tun
You say tun as //tʌn//. It has 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Tun
Is tun a symbol or a noun?
Tun is mainly used as a symbol, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is the plural of tun?
The plural of tun is tuns.
What is the past tense of tun?
The past tense of tun is tunned. The present participle is tunning.