FILTER

Pronunciation (US):

• FILTER (noun)
  The noun FILTER has 2 senses:

1. device that removes something from whatever passes through it
2. an electrical device that alters the frequency spectrum of signals passing through it

  Familiarity information: FILTER used as a noun is rare.

• FILTER (verb)
  The verb FILTER has 3 senses:

1. remove by passing through a filter
2. pass through
3. run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream

  Familiarity information: FILTER used as a verb is uncommon.

• FILTER (noun)

Meaning:

Device that removes something from whatever passes through it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("filter" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "filter"):

air cleaner; air filter (a filter that removes dust from the air that passes through it)

diatomaceous earth; diatomite; kieselguhr (a light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material)

glass wool (glass fibers spun and massed into bundles resembling wool)

water filter (a filter to remove impurities from the water supply)

strainer (a filter to retain larger pieces while smaller pieces and liquids pass through)

oil filter (a filter that removes impurities from the oil used to lubricate an internal-combustion engine)

diffusing screen; light filter (a transparent filter that reduces the light (or some wavelengths of the light) passing through it)

fuel filter (a filter in the fuel line that screens out dirt and rust particles from the fuel)

filter bed (filter consisting of a layer of sand or gravel for filtering water)

drain basket (a filter in a sink drain; traps debris but passes water)

coffee filter (filter (usually of paper) that passes the coffee and retains the coffee grounds)

bacteria bed (layer of sand or gravel used to expose sewage effluent to air and the action of microorganisms)

Meaning:

An electrical device that alters the frequency spectrum of signals passing through it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("filter" is a kind of...):

electrical device (a device that produces or is powered by electricity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "filter"):

low-pass filter (a filter that passes frequencies below a certain value and attenuates frequencies above that value)

high-pass filter (a filter that passes frequencies above a certain value and attenuates frequencies below that value)

• FILTER (verb)

Meaning:

Remove by passing through a filter

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

separate out; filtrate; filter out; filter; strain

Context example:

filter out the impurities

Hypernyms (to "filter" is one way to...):

separate (divide into components or constituents)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Pass through

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

filter; permeate; sink in; percolate

Context example:

Water permeates sand easily

Hypernyms (to "filter" is one way to...):

penetrate; perforate (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "filter"):

infiltrate (pass into or through by filtering or permeating)

infiltrate (cause (a liquid) to enter by penetrating the interstices)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Meaning:

Run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

dribble; trickle; filter

Context examples:

water trickled onto the lawn from the broken hose / reports began to dribble in

Hypernyms (to "filter" is one way to...):

course; feed; flow; run (move along, of liquids)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "filter"):

leach; percolate (permeate or penetrate gradually)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sentence example:

Water and oil filter into the bowl