siphon
To transfer by means of a siphonTo transfer (liquid) by means of a siphon.
Recorded UK: Speaker: Vealhurl Recorder: Vealhurl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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Tatoeba contributors · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
3 senses(transitive)To transfer (liquid) by means of a siphon.
He used a rubber tube to siphon petrol from the car's fuel tank.
abhebern
move a liquid from one container into another by means of a siphon or a siphoning action
(broadly, transitive)To transfer directly.
(figuratively, often, transitive)To steal or skim off something, such as money, in small amounts; to embezzle.
unterschlagen, absahnen
Examples
8 sentencesThe extension siphoned off browsing history.
Everyday, politicians siphon money from tax-payers.
Lorenzo siphoned gas out of the truck.
William used every trick in the book to siphon money from the company.
Private businesses and corrupt politicians are believed to have siphoned off billions of dollars.
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 2
Origin
From Middle French siphon, from Old French sifon, from Latin sīphō, from Ancient Greek σίφFrom 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.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
siphons, siphoning, siphoned, siphonedSynonyms
3 synonyms- convey, draw off, or empty by or as if by a siphon:syphonsiphon off
Word family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.