# siphon

/ˈsaɪfən/ (US) · /sˈaɪfən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/siphon
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a tube for moving liquid

noun · CEFR B2

a tube shaped like a 'U' that uses gravity to pull liquid up and out of a container into a lower one.

For teachers: a bent tube used to transfer liquid from a higher to a lower level by means of air pressure and gravity.

- He used a plastic siphon to empty the water out of the fish tank.
- The mechanic inserted a flexible siphon into the fuel tank to drain the contaminated petrol before repairing the engine.

### 2. biological tube

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a tube-like part in some animals or plants used for moving water or air.

For teachers: a tubular organ in certain invertebrates, such as molluscs, used for the intake or output of water.

- The clam uses its siphon to pull in water and filter out food.
- Marine biologists observed the octopus using its siphon to expel a powerful jet of water, allowing it to propel itself away from the predator.

### 3. to move liquid

verb · CEFR B2

to move liquid through a tube from one place to another.

For teachers: to convey, draw off, or empty liquid by means of a siphon. Transitive, requiring a direct object.

- We had to siphon the water out of the basement after the heavy rain.
- The wine was carefully siphoned from the fermentation vat into oak barrels to avoid disturbing the sediment at the bottom.

### 4. to take money dishonestly

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to gradually take money or resources from a business or account, often in a way that is not legal.

For teachers: to divert or draw off resources, especially money, from a fund or account over a period of time, typically dishonestly.

- The manager was caught trying to siphon money from the company's bank account.
- Investigators discovered that the executive had been siphoning millions into offshore accounts through a series of shell companies for over a decade.

## Examples

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

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