Tonne - What does it mean?
tonne | |
A metric unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. Symbol: t
(colloquial, darts) A score of .
A tonne (about 2204.6 pounds) is not exactly the same as a long ton (2240 pounds). Because "ton" and "tonne" usually have the same pronunciation, the phrase "metric ton" is frequently used for "tonne" where disambiguation is required.
In the 1970s the British steel industry promoted the pronunciation /?t?n?/ to help avoid confusion. The pronunciation /t?n/ has also been used for the same reason.
* 1971 . Transactions of the Royal Institute of Naval Archtects , page 215, volume 113, 1971
* 1972 , Which , May 1972
* 2002 , Richard Chapman, Physics for Geologists , page 138, CRC Press, 2002 ISBN 0415288053
tonne
English
Noun
(en noun)Usage notes
- 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 .