funnel

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a conical shape with a wider and a narrower opening at the two ends
  2. noun 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
  3. noun (nautical) smokestack consisting of a shaft for ventilation or the passage of smoke (especially the smokestack of a ship)

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

funnel shape

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