Engineering English
Tunnel Boring Machine
Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A tunnel boring machine is a large, automated drilling system used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross-section. It simultaneously installs tunnel lining segments behind the cutterhead.
Example in context
“The tunnel boring machine advanced at a rate of 10 meters per day through hard rock.”
“Tünel delme makinesi, sert kayanın içinde günde 10 metre hızla ilerledi.”
Where engineers use it
Appears in tunnel construction reports and daily progress logs. Engineers use it to plan excavation rates, select cutterhead type, and schedule segment installation. Essential for cost and schedule estimation.
Synonyms: TBM, mole
Practice: can you use “Tunnel Boring Machine” at work?
You are a site engineer on a metro tunnel project. Explain to a client why the tunnel boring machine's advance rate dropped from 12 to 7 meters per day.
Show a model answer
“The tunnel boring machine has completed 65% of the drive.”
“Tunnel Boring Machine” in 21 languages
| English | Tunnel Boring Machine |
|---|---|
| Turkish | tünel delme makinesi |
| French | tunnelier |
| German | Tunnelbohrmaschine |
| Spanish | tuneladora |
| Chinese | 隧道掘进机 |
| Arabic | آلة حفر الأنفاق |
| Portuguese | tatuzão |
| Russian | туннелепроходческий комплекс |
| Japanese | トンネルボーリングマシン |
| Italian | talpa meccanica |
| Vietnamese | máy khoan đường hầm |
| Hindi | सुरंग बोरिंग मशीन |
| Thai | เครื่องเจาะอุโมงค์ |
| Indonesian | mesin bor terowongan |
| Korean | 터널 보링 머신 |
| Bengali | টানেল বোরিং মেশিন |
| Dutch | tunnelboormachine |
| Swedish | tunnelborrmaskin |
| Finnish | tunneliporauskone |
| Ukrainian | тунелепрохідницький комплекс |
Frequently asked questions
What does Tunnel Boring Machine mean in engineering?
A tunnel boring machine is a large, automated drilling system used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross-section. It simultaneously installs tunnel lining segments behind the cutterhead. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Tunnel Boring Machine?
Tunnel Boring Machine is pronounced /tiː biː ɛm/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Tunnel Boring Machine used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The tunnel boring machine advanced at a rate of 10 meters per day through hard rock.”
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