funnel

[ fuhn-l ]

/ ˈfʌn l /

noun

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.

a smokestack, especially of a steamship.

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

Eastern New England. a stovepipe.

verb (used with object), fun·neled, fun·nel·ing or (especially British) fun·nelled, fun·nel·ling.

to concentrate, channel, or focus: They funneled all income into research projects.

to pour through or as if through a funnel.

verb (used without object), fun·neled, fun·nel·ing or (especially British) fun·nelled, fun·nel·ling.

to pass through or as if through a funnel.

Nearby words

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

Related formsfun·nel·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for funnels

Another reason to keep an upper hand: Russia also funnels oil to Europe via a pipeline that runs directly through Ukraine.
Up to Speed: What’s Going on in Ukraine?|Nina Strochlic|February 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Create a public jobs program that funnels the unemployed to fast growing areas such as at-home health care and child care.
How I'd Create Jobs|The Daily Beast|December 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The roar of the furnaces could be heard in the trumpeting of the funnels.
The Mystery of the Sea|Bram Stoker
At this time the enemy's funnels and bridges showed just above the horizon.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 2, May, 1915|Various

A steamship, on the other hand, belches smoke only from its funnels, as fresh water is far too precious to waste as steam.
How it Works|Archibald Williams
According to Semper there are thirteen funnels in both sexes—a number which fairly well agrees with my own results.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
The London was fitted up in a princely style; she had two funnels, and was very long.
Soyer's Culinary Campaign|Alexis Soyer

British Dictionary definitions for funnels

funnel

/ (ˈfʌnəl) /

noun

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

something resembling this in shape or function

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

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

verb -nels, nelling or -nelled or US -nels, -neling or -neled

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

to concentrate or focus or be concentrated or focused in a particular directionthey funnelled their attention on the problem

(intr) to take on a funnel-like shape

Derived Formsfunnel-like, adjective

Word Origin for funnel

C15: from Old Provençal fonilh, ultimately from Latin infundibulum funnel, hopper (in a mill), from infundere to pour in

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

Word Origin and History for funnels

funnel

c.1400, from Middle French fonel, from Provençal enfounilh, "a word from the Southern wine trade" [Weekley], from Late Latin fundibulum, shortened from Latin infundibulum "a funnel or hopper in a mill," from infundere "pour in," from in- "in" + fundere "pour" (see found (v.2)).

funnel

1590s, from funnel (n.). Related: Funneled; funneling.

funnel

noun

verb (used with object), fun·neled, fun·nel·ing or (especially British) fun·nelled, fun·nel·ling.

verb (used without object), fun·neled, fun·nel·ing or (especially British) fun·nelled, fun·nel·ling.

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Nearby words

Origin of funnel

Examples from the Web for funnels

funnel

noun

verb -nels, nelling or -nelled or US -nels, -neling or -neled

Word Origin for funnel

funnel

funnel