siphon

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: si=phon

CIDE DICTIONARY

siphon, n. [F. siphon, L. sipho, -onis, fr. Gr. a siphon, tube, pipe.].

•  A device, consisting of a pipe or tube bent so as to form two branches or legs of unequal length, by which a liquid can be transferred to a lower level, as from one vessel to another, over an intermediate elevation, by the action of the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the pipe immersed in it, while the continued excess of weight of the liquid in the longer branch (when once filled) causes a continuous flow. The flow takes place only when the discharging extremity of the pipe ia lower than the higher liquid surface, and when no part of the pipe is higher above the surface than the same liquid will rise by atmospheric pressure; that is, about 33 feet for water, and 30 inches for mercury, near the sea level.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the tubes or folds of the mantle border of a bivalve or gastropod mollusk by which water is conducted into the gill cavity. See Illust. under Mya, and Lamellibranchiata.  [1913 Webster]
•  A siphon bottle.  [1913 Webster]

Inverted siphon, a tube bent like a siphon, but having the branches turned upward; specifically (Hydraulic Engineering), a pipe for conducting water beneath a depressed place, as from one hill to another across an intervening valley, following the depression of the ground. -- Siphon barometer. See under Barometer. -- Siphon bottle, a bottle for holding aërated water, which is driven out through a bent tube in the neck by the gas within the bottle when a valve in the tube is opened; -- called also gazogene, and siphoid.<-- seltzer bottle? --> -- Siphon condenser, a condenser for a steam engine, in which the vacuum is maintained by the downward flow of water through a vertical pipe of great height. -- Siphon cup, a cup with a siphon attached for carrying off any liquid in it; specifically (Mach.), an oil cup in which oil is carried over the edge of a tube in a cotton wick, and so reaches the surface to be lubricated. -- Siphon gauge. See under Gauge. -- Siphon pump, a jet pump. See under Jet, n.

siphon, v. t. 

 To convey, or draw off, by means of a siphon, as a liquid from one vessel to another at a lower level.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

siphon, n. & v. (also syphon)
--n.
1 a pipe or tube shaped like an inverted V or U with unequal legs to convey a liquid from a container to a lower level by atmospheric pressure.
2 (in full siphon-bottle) an aerated-water bottle from which liquid is forced out through a tube by the pressure of gas.
3 Zool. a a canal or conduit esp. in cephalopods. b the sucking-tube of some insects etc.
--v.tr. & intr. (often foll. by off)
1 conduct or flow through a siphon.
2 divert or set aside (funds etc.).

Derivative

siphonage n. siphonal adj. siphonic adj.

Etymology

F siphon or L sipho -onis f. Gk siphon pipe

THESAURUS

siphon

adjutage, aspirator, bleed, broach, canalize, carry, catheter, channel, channelize, conduct, convey, corkscrew, crowbar, decant, draft, draft off, drain, drainpipe, draw, draw from, draw off, efflux tube, empty, exhaust, extractor, fire hose, flue pipe, flume, forceps, funnel, garden hose, gas pipe, hose, hosepipe, let, let blood, let out, milk, nipple, organ pipe, phlebotomize, pincers, pipe, pipeline, pipette, piping, pliers, press, pump, pump out, put through, put through channels, reed, reed pipe, separator, siamese, siamese connection, siphon off, snorkel, soil pipe, standpipe, steam pipe, stem, straw, suck, suck out, tap, traject, transmit, trench, tube, tubing, tubulation, tubule, tubulet, tubulure, tweezers, vacuum pump, venesect, waste pipe, water pipe, wringer

ROGET THESAURUS

siphon

Transference

VB transfer, transmit, transport, transplace, transplant, translocate, convey, carry, bear, fetch and carry, carry over, ferry over, hand pass, forward, shift, conduct, convoy, bring, fetch, reach, tote, port, import, export, send, delegate, consign, relegate, turn over to, deliver, ship, embark, waft, shunt, transpose, displace, throw, drag, mail, post, shovel, ladle, decant, draft off, transfuse, infuse, siphon.

Conduit

N conduit, channel, duct, watercourse, race, head race, tail race, abito, aboideau, aboiteau, bito, acequia, acequiador, acequiamadre, arroyo, adit, aqueduct, canal, trough, gutter, pantile, flume, ingate, runner, lock-weir, tedge, vena, dike, main, gully, moat, ditch, drain, sewer, culvert, cloaca, sough, kennel, siphon, piscina, pipe, funnel, tunnel, water pipe, waste pipe, emunctory, gully hole, artery, aorta, pore, spout, scupper, adjutage, ajutage, hose, gargoyle, gurgoyle, penstock, weir, flood gate, water gate, sluice, lock, valve, rose, waterworks, pipeline, vascular.