Funnel

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
  2. 2
    Alternative form of fummel (“hybrid animal”). alt-of, alternative
  3. 3
    (nautical) smokestack consisting of a shaft for ventilation or the passage of smoke (especially the smokestack of a ship) wordnet
  4. 4
    A passage or avenue for a fluid or flowing substance; specifically, a smoke flue or pipe; the chimney of a steamship or the like.
  5. 5
    a conically shaped utensil having a narrow tube at the small end; used to channel the flow of substances into a container with a small mouth wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Ellipsis of purchase funnel (“the process of customer acquisition conceptualized as a series of stages, from initial awareness (top) to sale or conversion (bottom)”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, figuratively

    "top of (the) funnel marketing"

  2. 7
    a conical shape with a wider and a narrower opening at the two ends wordnet
  3. 8
    Ellipsis of funnel cloud. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Verb
  1. 1
    To use a funnel. transitive
  2. 2
    move or pour through a funnel wordnet
  3. 3
    To proceed through a narrow gap or passageway akin to a funnel; to condense or narrow. intransitive

    "Expect delays where the traffic funnels down to one lane."

  4. 4
    To channel, direct, or focus (emotions, money, resources, etc.). transitive

    "Our taxes are being funnelled into pointless government initiatives."

  5. 5
    To consume (beer, etc.) rapidly through a funnel, typically as a stunt at a party. transitive

    "The first time he did it was to this freshman Kevin Ryers and we all just burst out laughing, watching Kevin try to funnel a beer."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English funell, fonel, probably through Old French *founel (compare Middle French fonel, Old Occitan fonilh, enfounilh), from Latin fundibulum, infundibulum (“funnel”), from infundere (“to pour in”); in (“in”) + fundere (“to pour”); compare Breton founilh (“funnel”), Welsh ffynel (“air hole, chimney”). See fuse.

Etymology 2

From Middle English funell, fonel, probably through Old French *founel (compare Middle French fonel, Old Occitan fonilh, enfounilh), from Latin fundibulum, infundibulum (“funnel”), from infundere (“to pour in”); in (“in”) + fundere (“to pour”); compare Breton founilh (“funnel”), Welsh ffynel (“air hole, chimney”). See fuse.

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