Tonne

Definition

Tonne is a unit of weight equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, commonly used outside of the United States to describe a metric ton.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /tʌn/
• Respelling: TUN (rhymes with "bun" and "sun")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /tʌn/
• Respelling: TUN (similar to American English, rhyming with "bun" and "sun")

In both dialects, "tonne" is pronounced identically to "ton," reflecting the same sound despite the difference in spelling and meaning (with "tonne" referring specifically to the metric ton, equivalent to 1000 kilograms). The pronunciation is consistent across both American and British English, with a simple "tun" sound.

Etymology

The term "tonne" originates from the French word "tonne", meaning "cask." It was adopted in English to distinguish the metric ton (1,000 kilograms) from the ton, which is used in the UK and US with different values (2,240 pounds in the UK and 2,000 pounds in the US).

Derivatives

• Megatonne
• Gigatonne
• Kilotonne
• Tonneau (French for "cask" or "barrel")
• Tonnage

Synonyms

• Metric ton
• MT (abbreviation for metric ton)
• Megagram

Antonyms

• Short ton
• Long ton
• Pound

Usage

• "Tonne" is a standard measure in countries that use the metric system, particularly for quantifying large weights in contexts like shipping or industry.
• It's often used in environmental contexts, such as measuring carbon emissions.
• In everyday conversation, it can also refer more loosely to a large amount of something.

Related Terms

• Kilogram
• Metric
• Weight
• Mass
• Ton

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Metric Weight: A metric unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,204.62 pounds.
• Example: The shipment weighed 10 tonnes.

• Large Quantity: A large quantity or amount, typically used in an informal context.
• Example: He has a tonne of responsibilities at work.

• Metric Measure: Specifically, in contexts where both metric and imperial measures might be used, "tonne" clarifies the metric measure is intended.
• Example: The cargo ship carried 5,000 tonnes of wheat.