filter
The definition of a filter is something that separates solids from liquids, or eliminates impurities, or allows only certain things to pass through.
(noun)- A Brita that you attach to your water faucet to remove impurities from your water is an example of a water filter.
- When you stop to think about the impact of your words before you say them, this is an example of a filter between your brain and your mouth.
To filter is defined as to remove impurities or unwanted material, to gradually leave a place or to gradually become known.
(verb)- When you run water through a cloth to remove dirt and other debris, this is an example of a time when you filter water.
- When you look through applications and weed out the ones you know your boss won't like, this is an example of a time when you filter.
- When people slowly exit a movie theater after a show ends, this is an example of a time when they filter out of the theatre.
- When news of the casualties after a plane crash starts to slowly become known, this is an example of a time when the news filters out.
See filter in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a device for separating solid particles, impurities, etc. from a liquid or gas by passing it through a porous substance
- any porous substance used or suitable for this, as sand, charcoal, felt, etc.
- Physics
- a device or substance that passes electric currents of certain frequencies or frequency ranges while preventing the passage of others
- a device or substance that partially or completely absorbs certain light rays: a color filter for a camera lens
Origin: ME filtre < OFr < ML filtrum, feltrum, felt, fulled wool (used for straining liquors) < Gmc: see felt
transitive verb
- to pass (a liquid or gas) through a filter
- to remove or separate (solid particles, impurities, etc.) from a liquid or gas by means of a filter: often with out
- to act as a filter for
Origin: Fr filtrer < the n.
intransitive verb
- to pass through or as if through a filter
- to move or pass slowly: the news filtered through town
See filter in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A porous material through which a liquid or gas is passed in order to separate the fluid from suspended particulate matter.b. A device containing such a material, especially one used to extract impurities from air or water.
- a. Any of various electric, electronic, acoustic, or optical devices used to reject signals, vibrations, or radiations of certain frequencies while allowing others to pass.b. A colored glass or other transparent material used to select the wavelengths of light allowed to reach a photosensitive material.
- Computer Science A program or routine that blocks access to data that meet a particular criterion: a Web filter that screens out vulgar sites.
- To pass (a liquid or gas) through a filter.
- To remove by passing through a filter: filter out impurities.
- Computer Science To use a filter to block access to (a website or Web content).
- To pass through or as if through a filter: Light filtered through the blinds.
- To come or go gradually and in small groups: The audience filtered back into the hall.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English filtre
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Medieval Latin filtrum
Origin: , of Germanic origin; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- filˈter·er noun
- filˈter·less adjective
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