funnel

[ fuhn-l ]
/ ˈfʌn l /

noun

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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM funnel

fun·nel·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for funnel

British Dictionary definitions for funnel

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

Derived forms of funnel

funnel-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