Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense funnels, present participle funnelling, past tense, past participle funnelledregional note: in AM, use funneling, funneled
1. countable noun
A funnel is an object with a wide, circular top and a narrow short tube at the bottom. Funnels are used to pour liquids into containers which have a small opening, for example bottles.
2. countable noun
A funnel is a metal chimney on a ship or railway engine powered by steam.
...a merchantman with three masts and two funnels.
Synonyms: chimney, shaft, vent, flue More Synonyms of funnel
3. countable noun
You can describe as a funnel something that is narrow, or narrow at one end, through which a substance flows and is directed.
These fires create convection funnels, and throw a lot of particles into the upperatmosphere.
4. verb
If something funnels somewhere or is funnelled there, it is directed through a narrow space.
The winds came from the north, across the plains, funnelling down the valley. [VERB adverb/preposition]
High tides in the North Sea were funnelled down into the English Channel by a storm. [beVERB-ed adverb/preposition]
5. verb
If you funnel money, goods, or information from one place or group to another, you cause it to be sent there as it becomes available.
The country announced new laws that it said would punish charities that funnelledmoney to extremists. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
He secretly funnelled credit-card information to counterfeiters. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
More Synonyms of funnel
funnel in British English
(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
verbWord forms: -nels, -nelling, -nelledWord forms: US-nels, -neling or -neled
5.
to move or cause to move or pour through or as if through a funnel
6.
to concentrate or focus or be concentrated or focused in a particular direction
they funnelled their attention on the problem
7. (intransitive)
to take on a funnel-like shape
Derived forms
funnel-like (ˈfunnel-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Old Provençal fonilh, ultimately from Latin infundibulum funnel, hopper (in a mill), from infundere to pour in
funnel in American English
(ˈfʌnəl)
noun
1.
an instrument consisting of an inverted cone with a hole at the small end, or a tapering or cylindrical tube with a wide, cone-shaped mouth, for pouring liquids and powders into containersthat have small openings
2.
a thing shaped like a funnel
3.
a.
a cylindrical smokestack, as of a steamship
b.
a chimney or flue
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: ˈfunneled or ˈfunnelled, ˈfunneling or ˈfunnelling
4.
to move or pour through a funnel
5.
to form in the shape of a funnel
6.
to move into a central channel or to a central point
Word origin
ME fonel < (prob. via an OFr form) Prov fonilh, enfonilh < L fundibulum, infundibulum, a funnel < infundere, to pour in < in-, in-1 + fundere, to pour: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Examples of 'funnel' in a sentence
funnel
The money was allegedly funnelled through a consulting firm to make it appear a legal, charitable project.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Each astronaut is given a tube and funnel for liquid waste.
The Sun (2015)
Oil is being funnelled to a ship on the surface where it is stored.
The Sun (2010)
Much of its profit is funnelled into charities set up by the founding family.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So secret routes to funnel cash to these funds had to be established.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
All spare cash was funnelled towards ensuring that he could get to competitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She was fronting bank accounts into which he illegally funnelled millions to hide from other regulators chasing him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The documents will show how much public money is being funnelled to local parties and unions under leasing arrangements for constituency offices.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Many funnel their cash home through property investments in India.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Why should it not scoop up patient charges and government money, then funnel them into tax avoidance schemes?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
From the caravan window you will see the peaks of the hills over the trees shielding the site from the winds that funnel down the valley.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A sudden descent might be prompted by a sighting of an enemy aircraft, or a glimpse of funnel smoke.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Labour will announce its tax avoidance policy today, which will include closing loopholes used by hedge funds and companies to funnel profits offshore and avoid stamp duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That money is funnelled back into welfare projects to help the poor, who are the mainstay of the socialist government's support.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Around 4,000 barrels a day are still spewing into the sea, despite an attempted fix using a tube to funnel oil to the surface.
The Sun (2010)
A lender can decide to funnel their money into just one company, but it is less risky for their cash to be divided up between various borrowers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
funnel
British English: funnel /ˈfʌnl/ NOUN
A funnel is an object with a wide top and a tube at the bottom, which is used to pour substances into a container.
Rain falls through the funnel into the jar below.
American English: funnel
Arabic: قُمْع
Brazilian Portuguese: funil
Chinese: 漏斗
Croatian: lijevak
Czech: trychtýř
Danish: tragt
Dutch: trechter
European Spanish: embudo
Finnish: suppilo
French: entonnoir
German: Trichter
Greek: χωνί
Italian: imbuto
Japanese: じょうご
Korean: 깔때기
Norwegian: trakt
Polish: lej
European Portuguese: funil
Romanian: pâlnie
Russian: воронка
Latin American Spanish: embudo de diversiones
Swedish: tratt
Thai: กรวย
Turkish: huni
Ukrainian: лійка
Vietnamese: phễu
British English: funnel VERB
If something funnels somewhere or is funnelled there, it is directed through a narrow space.
The winds came from the north, across the plains, funnelling down the valley.
American English: funnel
Brazilian Portuguese: afunilar
Chinese: 经过狭窄空间
European Spanish: canalizar
French: passer
German: schleusen
Italian: incanalare
Japanese: 狭い所を通す/狭い所を通る
Korean: 좁은 곳을 지나가다
European Portuguese: afunilar
Latin American Spanish: canalizar
All related terms of 'funnel'
funnel cake
a crisp , deep-fried cake, made by pouring batter through a funnel into fat or oil, usually in a spiral shape, and dusted with powdered sugar
funnel cap
any of various basidiomycetous fungi of the genus Clitocybe , characterized by the funnel-shaped caps and, usually, markedly decurrent gills
funnel-web
any large poisonous black spider of the family Dipluridae , constructing funnel-shaped webs
funnel cloud
a whirling column of cloud extending downwards from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud: part of a waterspout or tornado
Buchner funnel
a laboratory filter funnel used under reduced pressure. It consists of a shallow porcelain cylinder with a flat perforated base
separating funnel
a large funnel having a tap in its output tube, used to separate immiscible liquids
Chinese translation of 'funnel'
funnel
(ˈfʌnl)
n(c)
(for pouring) 漏斗 (lòudǒu) (个(個), gè)
[of ship]烟(煙)囱(囪) (yāncōng) (根, gēn)
vi
[water, wind]汇(匯)集 (huìjí)
vt
[water, wind]使汇(匯)集 (shì huìjí)
(fig)[money, resources]汇(匯)集 (huìjí)
1 (noun)
Definition
a tube with a wide mouth tapering to a small hole, used for pouring liquids into narrow openings
Use a funnel to re-fuel.
Synonyms
pipe
The liquid is conveyed along a pipe.
tube
pipeline
a natural-gas pipeline
duct
a big air duct in the ceiling
2 (noun)
Definition
a chimney of a ship or steam train
a ship with three masts and two funnels
Synonyms
chimney
shaft
vent
flue
cooking smells are vented through the flue
1 (verb)
Definition
to move or cause to move through, or as if through, a funnel
This device funnels the water from a downpipe into a butt.
Synonyms
conduct
He asked if he might conduct us to the ball.
direct
She will direct day-to-day operations.
channel
Stefan is channelling all his energies into his novel.
convey
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
move
pass
I passed the books to the librarian.
pour
filter
2 (verb)
Definition
to move or cause to move through, or as if through, a funnel
The centre will funnel money into research.
Synonyms
channel
direct
pour
filter
convey
Additional synonyms
in the sense of convey
Definition
to carry or transport from one place to another
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
Synonyms
carry,
transport,
move,
bring,
support,
bear,
conduct,
transmit,
fetch
in the sense of direct
Definition
to conduct or control the affairs of
She will direct day-to-day operations.
Synonyms
control,
run,
manage,
lead,
rule,
guide,
handle,
conduct,
advise,
govern,
regulate,
administer,
oversee,
supervise,
dispose,
preside over,
mastermind,
call the shots,
call the tune,
superintend
in the sense of duct
Definition
a tube, pipe, or channel through which liquid or gas is sent
a big air duct in the ceiling
Synonyms
pipe,
channel,
passage,
tube,
canal,
funnel,
conduit
Synonyms of 'funnel'
funnel
Explore 'funnel' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flue
Definition
a passage or pipe in a chimney, used to carry off smoke, gas, or hot air