1 Answer
Filters ... takes and collects the stuff you don't want somewhere else.1
a : a porous article or mass (as of paper or sand) through which a gas or liquid is passed to separate out matter in suspension b : an apparatus containing a filter medium
2
a : a device or material for suppressing or minimizing waves or oscillations of certain frequencies (as of electricity, light, or sound) b : a transparent material (as colored glass) that absorbs light of certain wavelengths or colors selectively and is used for modifying light that reaches a sensitized photographic material —called also color filter
3
: something that has the effect of a filter (as by holding back elements or modifying the appearance of something) <his work is too often viewed through the filter of race — Brent Staples>
4
: software for sorting or blocking access to certain online material
See filter defined for English-language learners »
See filter defined for kids »
Examples of FILTER
She smokes cigarettes with filters.He placed a red filter on the camera lens.digital filters that stop high-frequency sounds
Origin of FILTER
Middle English filtre, from Medieval Latin filtrum piece of felt used as a filter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German filz felt — more at feltFirst Known Use: 1563
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous
Rhymes with FILTER
jilter, kilter, philter, quilter, tilter
Learn More About FILTER
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "filter"
Spanish-English Dictionary: Translation of "filter"
Medical Dictionary: Definition of "filter"
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "filter"
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: filterable
Previous Word in the Dictionary: fils (noun)
All Words Near: filter
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up filter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
View Seen & Heard highlights from around the site »
Merriam-Webster on Facebook
12 years ago. Rating: 3 | |