Funnel
/ˈfʌnəl/
Definitions
3 meaningsA cone-shaped utensil with a wide opening at the top and a narrow tube at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.
/ˈfʌnəl/
A cone-shaped tool for pouring liquids or powders.
She used a funnel to fill the oil cruet.
💡 Simply: It's like a pouring helper! Imagine you're trying to get juice into a bottle. A funnel is like a slide for the juice so it doesn't spill everywhere.
👶 For kids: A funnel is a tool shaped like a cone. It has a wide top and a small bottom. You use it to pour stuff like water or sand into a bottle or jar.
More Examples
The chemist carefully poured the solution through the funnel into the flask.
A funnel is essential for transferring liquids without making a mess.
How It's Used
"Use a funnel to pour the oil into the bottle without spilling."
"The chemist used a funnel to filter the solution."
To pass or cause to pass through or as if through a funnel; to channel or direct.
/ˈfʌnəl/
To pass through a narrow opening; to channel.
The river funnels through a narrow gorge.
💡 Simply: To 'funnel' is like directing things to a specific place. Think about a sales team: they funnel customers through a process.
👶 For kids: When you funnel something, it means you're helping it to go into a small space or a special path.
More Examples
The company funneled its profits into research and development.
Information was funneled to the public through various media outlets.
How It's Used
"The company is funnelling resources into its new marketing campaign."
"The news media funnels information to the public."
A channel or passage, often wider at the top than at the bottom, for directing flow.
/ˈfʌnəl/
A wide, open space that directs movement or concentration.
The traffic funneled into a single lane.
💡 Simply: It's like the path people or things take. It's like the steps a customer takes to buy a product.
👶 For kids: Sometimes 'funnel' means a path where things move. Like a road getting smaller as it goes.
More Examples
The marketing funnel is designed to convert leads into customers.
The canyon acted as a natural funnel for the wind.
How It's Used
"The traffic funnels into one lane approaching the toll booth."
"A marketing funnel guides potential customers through a conversion journey."
Idioms & expressions
Sales Funnel
A marketing model that illustrates the customer journey from initial awareness to a purchase.
"The sales funnel helps the company understand the customer's buying process."
Funneling information
Directing information towards a specific person, group, or destination.
"The government was accused of funneling information."
From Middle English *funel*, from Old French *funoil* (diminutive of *fons*, meaning 'a fountain'), from Latin *fundibulum* 'funnel, funnel-shaped object', from *fundere* 'to pour'.
The word 'funnel' has been used in English since the 14th century. Initially, it referred to a device for pouring liquid, as it still does today. Its use as a verb, meaning 'to channel', developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine a cone shape guiding the liquid. Think 'funnel' to help the liquid find the hole.
Word Origin
"to pour"