noun
siphon
SEYE-fuhn
noun
1
A bent tube that uses pressure and gravity to move liquid from one container to a lower one.
"He used a siphon to drain fuel from the tank."
verb
1
To draw off liquid, or by extension money or resources, gradually and often secretly.
"The accountant was siphoning funds from the company for years."
How to Use Siphon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tube for moving liquid using gravity, or figuratively, quietly draining money or resources away.
Common pairings
siphon fuel
siphon money
siphon off
Word Forms
siphoned past tense, siphons plural, siphons singular
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He used a _____ to drain fuel from the tank.
Etymology
From Greek σίφων (síphōn, "pipe, tube"), via Latin and Old French.