“Ton” vs. “Tun”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “ton” and “tun”

  • Ton is a unit of weight, while tun is a container used for storing liquids.
  • Ton is used to measure the weight of objects, while tun is used to measure the volume of liquids.
  • Ton is an official measurement unit recognized universally, while tun is a term used mostly in the context of the beverage industry.
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What is the definition of “ton” and “tun”?

Ton
  • It is used to measure the weight or mass of heavy objects such as vehicles, cargo, or animals.
  • In the US, the term "short ton" is used to refer to the measurement of 2,000 pounds, while the "long ton" in the UK is equal to 2,240 pounds.
Tun
  • A large barrel-shaped container used to store liquids such as wine or beer.
  • It typically holds around 252 gallons of liquid or more.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Ton” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Ton
656,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. He ordered a ton of sand for the construction project.
  2. The elephant weighed a ton and was difficult to move.
  3. The shipment of bananas weighed several tons.
Tun
381,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The winery had a massive oak tun used for aging their finest wines.
  2. The brewery imported a traditional wooden tun from Europe to ferment their craft beers.
  3. The cellar was filled with rows of tuns, each holding a different type of alcoholic beverage.
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