ENGLISH
REFERENCE

siphon

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈsaɪfən// UK //sˈaɪfən// siphon

n. a tube or pipe that moves liquid from a higher place to a lower one without a pump. It works by using the shape of the tube and the pull of gravity.

n. a tube or pipe that allows a liquid to flow from a higher to a lower level without the use of a pump. It operates through the principle of atmospheric pressure and gravity.


SIMPLE

The siphon moves water from the tank to the garden.

CONTEXTUAL

The gardener used a siphon to transfer water from the large barrel to the smaller containers without lifting the heavy lid.

COMPLEX

In the human body, the siphon mechanism is utilized by certain insects to transport nectar from the base of the flower to their digestive system.

Origin

From Middle French siphon, from Old French sifon, from Latin sipho, from Ancient Greek σίφων (síphōn, “pipe, tube”), of uncertain origin; possibly related to Latin tibia (“pipe, flute of bone”), with the irregular forms suggesting a non-Indo-European loan source, perhaps of the shape twi-, twibh.

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