English Explanatory Dictionary

siphon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A bent pipe or tube with one end lower than the other, in which hydrostatic pressure exerted due to the force of gravity moves liquid from one reservoir to another.
  2. A soda siphon.
  3. A tubelike organ found in animals or elongated cell found in plants.
verb
  1. To transfer (liquid) by means of a siphon.
  2. To transfer directly.
  3. To steal or skim off something, such as money, in small amounts; to embezzle.

Pronunciation

/ˈsaɪfən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-siphon.wav

Word forms

siphon siphons syphon siphoning siphoned

Etymology

From Middle French siphon, from Old French sifon, from Latin sīphō, from Ancient Greek σίφων (síphōn, “pipe, tube”), of uncertain origin; possibly related to Latin tibia (“pipe, flute of bone”), with the irregular forms suggesting a non-Indo-European loan source, perhaps of the shape *twi-, *twibh.

Synonyms

misappropriate

Related words

seep sip

Derived words

antisiphon jet siphon microsiphon prosiphon pseudosiphon siphonage siphonal siphonate siphon condenser siphon cup siphoner siphonet siphonic siphoniferous siphoniform siphonless siphonlike siphonostele siphonous siphon recorder thermic siphon thermosiphon resiphon siphonable siphon the python unsiphoned
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