funnel

American  

[fuhn-l] / ˈfʌn l /

noun

1. a cone-shaped utensil with a tube at the apex for conducting liquid or other substance through a small opening, as into a bottle, jug, or the like.

2. a smokestack, especially of a steamship.

3. a flue, tube, or shaft, as for ventilation.

4. Eastern New England. a stovepipe.

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verb (used with object)

funneled, funneling, funnelled, funnelling

1. to concentrate, channel, or focus.

   They funneled all income into research projects.

2. to pour through or as if through a funnel.

verb (used without object)

funneled, funneling, funnelled, funnelling

1. to pass through or as if through a funnel.

funnel British  

/ ˈfʌnəl /

noun

1. a hollow utensil with a wide mouth tapering to a small hole, used for pouring liquids, powders, etc, into a narrow-necked vessel

2. something resembling this in shape or function

3. a smokestack for smoke and exhaust gases, as on a steamship or steam locomotive

4. a shaft or tube, as in a building, for ventilation

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verb

1. to move or cause to move or pour through or as if through a funnel

2. to concentrate or focus or be concentrated or focused in a particular direction

   they funnelled their attention on the problem

3. (intr) to take on a funnel-like shape

Other Word Forms

• funnel-like adjective
• funnellike adjective

Etymology

Origin of funnel

1375–1425; late Middle English fonel < Old Provençal fonilh ( Gascon ) < Vulgar Latin *fundibulum, for Latin infundibulum, derivative of infundere to pour in

Example Sentences

“To date, the story around Norwegian has been less about expanding the funnel and more about trying to just manage its share.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The auction generates several million dollars annually -- last year, about $19.5 million -- that are then funneled into the country's health care system.

From Barron's

The marketing agent drafts and schedules social media posts, builds basic email newsletter copy and helps funnel fans toward ticket purchases and mailing lists.

From Los Angeles Times

The discrepancy underscores the fact that today’s economy is funneling money toward capital instead of labor—a trend that AI will intensify, writes Greg Ip.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence could funnel even more of economic output toward capital instead of labor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• channel
• filter
• pour
• siphon
• transmit