noun

funnel

FUH-nuhl

noun

A cone-shaped tool with a narrow tube, used to pour liquids or powders into a small opening.

"She used a funnel to pour the oil into the car's engine."

verb

To direct or channel something through a narrow path, or to focus resources toward one goal.

"The charity funneled all its donations into disaster relief."

"Rush-hour traffic funneled into a single lane at the bridge."

How to Use Funnel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cone-shaped tool for guiding liquid into a narrow opening, or (as a verb) to direct something narrowly toward one place.

Common pairings

funnel money into sales funnel pour through a funnel

funneled past tense, funnelled past tense, funnels singular

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She used a _____ to pour the oil into the car's engine.

From Middle English funell, likely via Old French, ultimately from Latin infundibulum ("funnel"), from infundere ("to pour in").

tunnel