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filter

[ fil-ter ]

/ ˈfɪl tər /

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See synonyms for: filter / filtered / filtering on Thesaurus.com

noun

any substance, as cloth, paper, porous porcelain, or a layer of charcoal or sand, through which liquid or gas is passed to remove suspended impurities or to recover solids.

any device, as a tank or tube, containing such a substance for filtering.

any of various analogous devices, as for removing dust from air or impurities from tobacco smoke, or for eliminating certain kinds of light rays.

something that works like a filter, as by removing, blocking, or separating out certain elements: Kids often talk without a filter. Events can be distorted through the filter of memory.

Informal. a filter-tipped cigarette or cigar.

Photography.

a lens screen of dyed gelatin or glass placed on a camera for controlling the rendering of color or for diminishing the intensity of light.
Digital Technology. a data manipulation function that changes the color or sharpness of a digital image or overlays an additive or special effect element: Use a sepia filter to give your photos that old-timey look.

Electronics, Physics. a circuit or device that passes certain frequencies and blocks others.

Mathematics. a collection of subsets of a topological space, having the properties that the intersection of two subsets in the collection is a subset in the collection and that any set containing a subset in the collection is in the collection.

Computers. an algorithm that categorizes, sorts, prioritizes, or blocks data through rule-based protocols: an email filter that deletes messages with subject words found commonly in spam.

verb (used with object)

to remove by the action of a filter.

Computers. to subject (data) to an algorithmic filter: The search engine will filter your query results based on your location and user profile.

to act as a filter for; to slow or partially obstruct the passage of: The thick leaves filtered the sunlight.

to pass through or as through a filter.

verb (used without object)

to pass or slip through slowly, as through an obstruction or a filter: Enemy agents managed to filter into the embattled country.

SYNONYMS FOR filter

14 penetrate, sift, seep, trickle, leak.

See synonyms for filter on Thesaurus.com

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On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

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Origin of filter

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English filtre, from Medieval Latin filtrum “felt, piece of felt used to strain liquids,” from Germanic; see origin at felt²

OTHER WORDS FROM filter

fil·ter·er, nounnon·fil·ter, nouno·ver·fil·ter, verb (used with object)pre·fil·ter, noun

re·fil·ter, verb (used with object)un·fil·ter·ing, adjectivewell-filtered, adjective

Words nearby filter

filoselle, filosus, filovirus, fils, filt., filter, filterable, filterable virus, filter bed, filter bubble, filter cake

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for filter

Even when they’re available, portable air filters can be expensive, easily costing up to several hundred dollars for a device big enough to clean the air in a single room.
Wildfire smoke and COVID-19 are a one-two punch for indoor air quality across the U.S.|dzanemorris|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Hmmm, Google already had a filter set to not pass all Search Terms into the UI based on traffic volume, so this appears to be them simply moving the threshold.
How much does Google’s new search term filtering affect ad spend transparency? Here’s how to find out|Frederick Vallaeys|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
Once the nearby filter is selected, users will see a new UI that Google is calling a “local stores card,” also constructed of local inventory data from merchant feeds.
Google boosting visibility of ‘nearby’ product inventory with new Shopping features|Greg Sterling|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
In a blog post in 2016, it detailed what went into the system’s design, along with testing data to back up its claims of a HEPA filter that’s “ten times more efficient than standard automotive filters.”
Elon Musk says Tesla will ‘one day’ produce ‘super efficient home HVAC’ with HEPA filtering|Darrell Etherington|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch

So this fall, classrooms might get new air filters that weren’t there before.
Here’s how COVID-19 is changing classes this year|Bethany Brookshire|September 8, 2020|Science News For Students
We are overwhelmed with data from every quarter, and our capacity to filter fact from fraud is limited.
The Facts About Ferguson Matter, Dammit|Doug McIntyre|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If users want to send naughty photos with a veil of privacy, opt for the pixilated shower door filter.
Swipe Right For Sex: Mixxxer Is Tinder for the Porn Star Set|Aurora Snow|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By using some sort of filter—like, perhaps, a universally understood saying—the trait is more easily conveyed.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Basically, my mother said with a touch of embarrassment, everyone else seemed to have a filter, so they bought one, too.
Are Water Filters B.S.?|Michael Schulson|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Somehow, though, I doubt that consumers rush out of the grocery store filter aisle and straight to the testing authorities.
Are Water Filters B.S.?|Michael Schulson|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At once cover the mouth of the tube with a filter-paper cap moistened with saturated aqueous solution of silver nitrate (1:1).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
In quantitative work the chemist aims to precipitate this green sulphide, which is more easily collected on a filter.
The Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis, vol. 1, parts 1 and 2.|Julius Stieglitz
The whole is then well stirred, collected on a filter, drained, and dried.
Field's Chromatography|George Field
After 24 hours filter the liquor, and evaporate to a pilular consistence.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
Dissolve and filter off the liquid from the precipitate, and dilute to proper standard.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for filter

filter

/ (ˈfɪltə) /

noun

a porous substance, such as paper or sand, that allows fluid to pass but retains suspended solid particles: used to clean fluids or collect solid particles

any device containing such a porous substance for separating suspensions from fluids

any of various porous substances built into the mouth end of a cigarette or cigar for absorbing impurities such as tar

any electronic, optical, or acoustic device that blocks signals or radiations of certain frequencies while allowing others to passSee also band-pass filter

any transparent disc of gelatine or glass used to eliminate or reduce the intensity of given frequencies from the light leaving a lamp, entering a camera, etc

British a traffic signal at a road junction consisting of a green arrow which when illuminated permits vehicles to turn either left or right when the main signals are red

verb

(often foll by out) to remove or separate (suspended particles, wavelengths of radiation, etc) from (a liquid, gas, radiation, etc) by the action of a filter

(tr) to obtain by filtering

(intr foll by through) to pass (through a filter or something like a filter)dust filtered through the screen

(intr) to flow slowly; trickle

Word Origin for filter

C16 filtre from Medieval Latin filtrum piece of felt used as a filter, of Germanic origin; see felt ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for filter

filter

[ fĭl′tər ]

n.

A porous material through which a liquid or gas is passed in order to separate the fluid from suspended particulate matter.

A device containing such a substance.

Any of various electric, electronic, acoustic, or optical devices used to reject signals, vibrations, or radiations of certain frequencies while passing others.

A translucent screen, used in both diagnostic and therapeutic radiology, that permits the passage of rays having desirable levels of energy.

A device used in spectrophotometric analysis to isolate a segment of the spectrum.

v.

To pass a liquid or gas through a filter.

To remove by passing through a filter.

To pass through or as if through a filter.

Scientific definitions for filter

filter

[ fĭl′tər ]

A material that has very tiny holes and is used to separate out solid particles contained in a liquid or gas that is passed through it.

A device that allows signals with certain properties, such as signals lying in a certain frequency range, to pass while blocking the passage of others. For example, filters on photographic lenses allow only certain frequencies of light to enter the camera, while polarizing filters allow only light polarized along a given plane to pass. Radio tuners are filters that allow frequencies of only a narrow range to pass into an amplification circuit.

Cultural definitions for filter

filter

A computer software program that selectively screens out incoming information.

notes for filter

Spam may be the target of a filter, or parents may use a filter designed to prevent their child's access to pornographic or violent Web pages.

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