siphon

Or sy·phon

[sahy-fuhn]

noun

1. a tube or conduit bent into legs of unequal length, for use in drawing a liquid from one container into another on a lower level by placing the shorter leg into the container above and the longer leg into the one below, the liquid being forced up the shorter leg and into the longer one by the pressure of the atmosphere.

2. siphon bottle.

3. a projecting tubular part of some animals, especially certain mollusks, through which liquid enters or leaves the body.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to convey, draw, or pass through or as if through a siphon (sometimes followed byoff ).

   to siphon water; to siphon off profits into a secret bank account.

siphon

/ saɪˈfɒnɪk, ˈsaɪfən /

noun

1. a tube placed with one end at a certain level in a vessel of liquid and the other end outside the vessel below this level, so that liquid pressure forces the liquid through the tube and out of the vessel by gravity

2. See soda siphon

3. zoology any of various tubular organs in different aquatic animals, such as molluscs and elasmobranch fishes, through which a fluid, esp water, passes

verb

1. (often foll by off) to pass or draw off through or as if through a siphon

siphon

1. A pipe or tube in the form of an upside-down U, filled with liquid and arranged so that the pressure of the atmosphere forces liquid to flow upward from a container through the tube, over a barrier, and into a lower container.

2. A tubular animal part, as of a clam, through which water is taken in or expelled.

Other Word Forms

• siphonal adjective
• siphonic adjective
• siphonless adjective
• siphonlike adjective
• pseudosiphonal adjective
• pseudosiphonic adjective
• siphonage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphon¹

1650–60; < Latin sīphōn- (stem of sīphō ) < Greek síphōn, sī́phōn pipe, tube

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphon¹

C17: from Latin sīphō, from Greek siphōn siphon

Example Sentences

Using its pores for filtration, the stationary sponge creates its own currents to siphon its prey—as it must, if it is to feed and remain motionless.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Williamson was charged with bank and tax fraud for allegedly siphoning campaign and COVID-19 recovery funds into her and an associate’s pockets and claiming personal luxuries as business expenses on tax forms.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The F5 hackers could have gained access to or siphoned information about all downstream clients.

Read more on Barron's

The auto-parts seller’s new management has accused its former CEO, who stepped down after the company filed for bankruptcy in late September, of siphoning large sums of money from the company for his personal use.

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Investigators earlier alleged a key Zelensky ally orchestrated a $100-million kickback scheme to siphon funds, triggering public anger at a time of widespread power outages caused by Russian attacks.

Read more on Barron's