Filter Definition

fĭltər
filtered, filtering, filters
noun
filters
A device for separating solid particles, impurities, etc. from a liquid or gas by passing it through a porous substance.
Webster's New World
A device containing such a material, especially one used to extract impurities from air or water.
American Heritage Medicine
Any porous substance used or suitable for this, as sand, charcoal, felt, etc.
Webster's New World
A device or substance that passes electric currents of certain frequencies or frequency ranges while preventing the passage of others.
Webster's New World
A colored glass or other transparent material used to select the wavelengths of light allowed to reach a photosensitive material.
American Heritage Medicine
verb
filtered, filtering, filters
To pass through or as if through a filter.
Webster's New World
To remove or separate by means of a filter.
Webster's New World
To move or pass slowly.
The news filtered through town.
Webster's New World
To pass through or as if through a filter.
Webster's New World
To act as a filter for.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
other

(order theory): ultrafilter.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Filter

Noun

Singular:
filter
Plural:
filters

Origin of Filter

  • Middle English filtre from Old French from Medieval Latin filtrum of Germanic origin pel-5 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French filtre, from Medieval Latin filtrum, from Frankish *filtir, from Proto-Germanic *feltaz. See felt.

    From Wiktionary

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