Illustration of siphon
- siphon 1a
variants
or less commonly syphon
1
a
: a tube bent to form two legs of unequal length by which a liquid can be transferred to a lower level over an intermediate elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the tube immersed in it while the excess of weight of the liquid in the longer branch when once filled causes a continuous flow
b
usually syphon
: a bottle for holding aerated water that is driven out through a bent tube in its neck by the pressure of the gas when a valve in the tube is opened
2
: any of various tubular organs in animals and especially mollusks or arthropods that are used for drawing in or ejecting fluids
variants
or less commonly syphon
siphoned also syphoned; siphoning also syphoning
ˈsī-fə-niŋ 
ˈsīf-niŋ
: to convey, draw off, or empty by or as if by a siphon
—often used with off
: to pass by or as if by a siphon
Examples of siphon in a Sentence
Verb
The water needs to be siphoned from the pool.
She illegally siphoned money out of other people's bank accounts.
Funds were siphoned from the schools to build a new stadium.
The large chain stores are siphoning profits from the small local stores.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The basalt siphons slowed the destruction, to an extent, but in February 2024, lava outflows disabled a network of pipes from the power station.
—Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
Sam Mednick, Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2025
Israel says the system is needed because Hamas siphons off significant amounts of aid.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for siphon
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Noun
Soda makers, on the other hand, can carbonate much more water than a siphon, as the carbon dioxide cartridge is inside the machine to create carbonated water.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The basalt siphons slowed the destruction, to an extent, but in February 2024, lava outflows disabled a network of pipes from the power station.
—Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid but the United Nations and aid groups deny there is significant diversion.
—Sam Mednick, Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2025
Israel says the system is needed because Hamas siphons off significant amounts of aid.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for siphon
Cite this Entry
“Siphon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/siphon. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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