funnel

n. countable

B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfənəɫ// UK //fˈʌnəl// fun·nel

n. a tool with a wide top and a narrow bottom. You use it to pour liquids or powders into a small opening without spilling.

n. a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening. Often used metaphorically in business to describe a process that narrows down a large group of people.

SIMPLE

Use a funnel to pour the oil into the bottle.

CONTEXTUAL

The mechanic used a plastic funnel to ensure the engine coolant didn't spill onto the hot radiator.

COMPLEX

In digital marketing, the sales funnel represents the theoretical journey a customer takes from initial brand awareness through to the final purchase decision.

Origin

From Middle English funell, fonel, probably through Old French *founel (compare Middle French fonel, Old Occitan fonilh, enfounilh), from Latin fundibulum, infundibulum (“funnel”), from infundere (“to pour in”); in (“in”) + fundere (“to pour”); compare Breton founilh (“funnel”), Welsh ffynel (“air hole, chimney”). See fuse.

Usage

Commonly used with the verb 'to pour through' or as a metaphor in 'sales funnel' and 'marketing funnel'.