tonne

Definitions

1. A surname from German.
2. A unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms.

Equivalents

Examples

“Although loads of up to 900 tonnes could be handled by one of these locomotives, in practice the load⟳ is limited to 790 tonnes by drawgear.”

“The metric ton or 'tonne' is accepted as a synonym for the megagramme, and this form⟳ Is to be preferred on the grounds of brevity and familiarity in the industry. It may be as well to use⟳ the pronunciation 'tunnie' until the risk⟳ of confusion with the old ton has passed.”

“The British Steel Corporation, going metric but realising the possible confusion between a ton and a tonne (1,000 kilograms) has directed its staff to pronounce ‘tonne’ ‘tunnie’.”

“The tonne rhymes with con (perhaps not in North America!) to distinguish it from the non-SI unit of weight, the ton rhyming with bun.”

CEFR level