funnel

n. a tube with a wide, cone-shaped top used to pour liquids or powders into a container with a small opening.

n. a utensil consisting of a hollow cone with a narrow pipe at the apex, used for channeling liquids or granular materials into containers with small openings.

“He used a plastic funnel to pour the oil into the car engine without spilling.”

“The laboratory technician carefully positioned the glass funnel to ensure the chemical solution was transferred into the narrow-necked flask without loss.”

n. a large pipe on a ship or steam engine that lets out smoke.

n. a smoke flue or chimney, particularly the large vertical pipes on a steamship or locomotive.

“Thick black smoke rose from the ship's funnel as it left the harbour.”

“The ocean liner featured four iconic funnels, though only three were functional while the fourth served as ventilation and aesthetic balance.”

Technical

n. the process of finding new customers and leading them toward buying a product.

n. a conceptual model representing the customer journey from initial awareness to final purchase or conversion.

“The marketing team is looking for ways to get more people into the sales funnel.”

“By analyzing the conversion rate at each stage of the funnel, the company identified a significant drop-off during the initial registration phase.”

Academic

v. to move money, information, or resources into a specific place or toward a specific goal.

v. to direct, channel, or focus resources, funds, or efforts into a specific area or through a particular medium.

“The charity funnels most of its donations directly to the local schools.”

“The government was accused of funneling public funds into private infrastructure projects through a series of offshore accounts.”

v. to move through a narrow opening or passage in a large group.

v. to proceed or be driven through a narrow gap or passageway; to narrow or condense in movement.

“The crowd began to funnel through the small gate at the end of the stadium.”

“As the valley narrowed, the wind began to funnel between the cliffs, reaching much higher speeds than on the open plain.”