siphon

Alternative forms

• syphon

Etymology

From Middle French siphon, from Old French sifon, from Latin sipho, from Ancient Greek σίφων (síphōn, “pipe, tube”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪfən
• IPA^(key): /ˈsaɪfən/

Noun

siphon (plural siphons)

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. (biology) A tubelike organ found in animals or elongated cell found in plants.

Verb

siphon (third-person singular simple present siphons, present participle siphoning, simple past and past participle siphoned)

1. (transitive) To transfer (liquid) by means of a siphon.

   He used a rubber tube to siphon petrol from the car's fuel tank.

2. (transitive, figuratively) To steal or skim off in small amounts; to embezzle.

Anagrams

• Pinhos

Etymology

Via Latin sipho from Ancient Greek σίφων (síphōn, “pipe, tube”), but of unknown ultimate origin.

Noun

siphon m (plural siphons)

1. siphon

Further reading

• “siphon” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).