funnel, n. [OE. funel, fonel, prob. through OF. fr, L. fundibulum, infundibulum, funnel, fr. infundere to pour in; in in + fundere to pour; cf. Armor. founil funnel, W. ffynel air hole, chimney. See Fuse, v. t.].

A vessel of the shape of an inverted hollow cone, terminating below in a pipe, and used for conveying liquids or pourable solids into a vessel with a narrow opening; a tunnel. [1913 Webster]
A passage or avenue for a fluid or flowing substance; specifically, a smoke flue or pipe; the iron chimney of a steamship or the like. [1913 Webster]

Funnel box (Mining), an apparatus for collecting finely crushed ore from water. Knight. -- Funnel stay (Naut.), one of the ropes or rods steadying a steamer's funnel.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

funnel, n. & v.
--n.
1 a narrow tube or pipe widening at the top, for pouring liquid, powder, etc., into a small opening.
2 a metal chimney on a steam engine or ship.
3 something resembling a funnel in shape or use.
--v.tr. & intr. (funnelled, funnelling; US funneled, funneling) guide or move through or as through a funnel.

Derivative

funnel-like adj.

Etymology

ME f. Prov. fonilh f. LL fundibulum f. L infundibulum f. infundere (as IN-(2), fundere pour)

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THESAURUS

funnel

adjutage, approach, asymptote, bottleneck, canalize, carry, catheter, center, centralize, channel, channelize, chimney, close, close in, close up, close with, collision course, come together, complex cone, concenter, concentralization, concentralize, concentrate, concentration, concourse, concurrence, conduct, cone, conelet, confluence, conflux, congress, conoid, converge, convergence, converging, convey, cop, cornet, crossing, drainpipe, efflux tube, fall in with, fire hose, flue, flue pipe, flume, focalization, focus, fumarole, garden hose, gas pipe, hose, hosepipe, hub, ice-cream cone, intersect, meet, meeting, mutual approach, narrow the gap, narrowing gap, nip, nipple, organ pipe, pinch, pine cone, pipe, pipeline, pipette, piping, put through, put through channels, radius, reed, reed pipe, run together, siamese, siamese connection, siphon, smokeshaft, smokestack, snorkel, soil pipe, spokes, stack, standpipe, steam pipe, stem, stovepipe, straw, tangent, tap, taper, traject, transmit, trench, tube, tubing, tubulation, tubule, tubulet, tubulure, unite, waste pipe, water pipe

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ROGET THESAURUS

funnel

Opening

N opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!.

Conduit

N conduit, channel, duct, watercourse, race, head race, tail race, abito, aboideau, aboiteau, bito, acequia, acequiador, acequiamadre, arroyo, adit, aqueduct, canal, trough, gutter, pantile, flume, ingate, runner, lock-weir, tedge, vena, dike, main, gully, moat, ditch, drain, sewer, culvert, cloaca, sough, kennel, siphon, piscina, pipe, funnel, tunnel, water pipe, waste pipe, emunctory, gully hole, artery, aorta, pore, spout, scupper, adjutage, ajutage, hose, gargoyle, gurgoyle, penstock, weir, flood gate, water gate, sluice, lock, valve, rose, waterworks, pipeline, vascular.

Airpipe

N airpipe, air pipe, air tube, airhole, blowhole, breathinghole, venthole, shaft, flue, chimney, funnel, vent, nostril, nozzle, throat, weasand, trachea, bronchus, bronchia, larynx, tonsils, windpipe, spiracle, ventiduct, ventilator, louvre, jalousie, Venetian blinds, blowpipe, pipe, jhilmil, smokestack, screen, window screen, ' artificial lung, iron lung, heart and lung machine.

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