funnel

Meaning

Noun

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. A passage or avenue for a fluid or flowing substance; specifically, a smoke flue or pipe; the chimney of a steamship or the like.
3. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, figuratively) Ellipsis of purchase funnel (“the process of customer acquisition conceptualized as a series of stages, from initial awareness (top) to sale or conversion (bottom)”).
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of funnel cloud.

Verb

1. (transitive) To use a funnel.
2. (intransitive) To proceed through a narrow gap or passageway akin to a funnel; to condense or narrow.
3. (transitive) To channel, direct, or focus (emotions, money, resources, etc.).
4. (transitive) To consume (beer, etc.) rapidly through a funnel, typically as a stunt at a party.

Synonyms

chimney

smokestack

flue

funnel shape

stovepipe

stack

hopper

infundibulum

filler

focus

shaft

smoke pipe

trunk

chimney stack

air funnel

air flue

chimney flue

chimney neck

gas duct

smoke flue

ventilation tubing

gas flue

grain hopper

heating tube

smoke channel

waste heat flue

smoke canal

funnel flue

stack flue

short stem

ventilator duct

air shaft

vent sleeve

bell

🔔

breeching

bunker

chute

cone

crater

filter

focalize

Translations

entonnoir

Trichter

imbuto

embudo

trechter

funil

embut

fumaiolo

cheminée

huni

ciminiera

Schlot

χωνί

chimenea

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfʌnəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: funell

Cognate with Middle French: fonel

Cognate with Old Provençal: fonilh

Cognate with Breton: founilh

Cognate with Welsh: ffynel

In summary

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.