funnel

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌnəl/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ʌnəl

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.

funnel (plural funnels)

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.

• tundish

funnel (third-person singular simple present funnels, present participle funnelling or funneling, simple past and past participle funnelled or funneled)

1. (transitive) To use a funnel.
2. (intransitive) To proceed through a narrow gap or passageway akin to a funnel; to condense or narrow.

   Expect delays where the traffic funnels down to one lane.

   • 2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)

     A line of clocks in our cheap hotel displays the time in Lagos, Bucharest, Kiev: the capitals of pilgrims who come to kneel at the birthplace of Christ. In reality the entire world funnels through the Church of the Nativity.

3. (transitive) To channel, direct, or focus (emotions, money, resources, etc.).

   Our taxes are being funnelled into pointless government initiatives.

   • 2018 June 16, Fiona Sturges, “Cattleprods! Severed tongues! Torture porn! Why I’ve stopped watching the Handmaid’s Tale”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, ISSN 0261-3077, OCLC 229952407, archived from the original on 5 February 2020:

     Like so many others, I was awestruck by the first season, which captured a moment in time and successfully funnelled its rage outwards at a world in which women are indeed silenced, controlled and killed by men.

4. (transitive) To consume (beer, etc.) rapidly through a funnel, typically as a stunt at a party.
   • 2013, Jonathan Caren, The Recommendation, page 31:

     The first time he did it was to this freshman Kevin Ryers and we all just burst out laughing, watching Kevin try to funnel a beer.

• refunnel

funnel (plural funnels)

1. Alternative form of fummel (“hybrid animal”)