[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/siphon/)

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# siphon

noun (a siphon, siphons; also syphon); verb (siphon, siphons, siphoned, siphoning)

«siphon» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A siphon is a bent tube that moves liquid from a higher container to a lower one, over an edge, without a pump, once the tube is full. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#m1)
2. To siphon is to move liquid this way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#m2)
3. To siphon off money or resources is to take them away bit by bit, often secretly or wrongly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#m3)
4. In animals like squids and clams, a siphon is a tube used to suck in or squirt out water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#m4)

### In the lessons

Science: a siphon works because the liquid flowing down the longer side pulls the rest along; air pressure helps push the liquid up the short side. Everyday life: emptying a fish tank or a paddling pool with a hose. Safety: never siphon petrol by mouth, it is poisonous. News: «siphoning off money» is a kind of stealing.

### Examples

- We used a siphon to empty the fish tank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x1)
- Dad siphoned the water out of the paddling pool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x2)
- The squid shoots water out of its siphon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x3)
- In science we made a siphon with a tube and two jugs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x4)
- The thief siphoned off money from the club. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x5)
- The siphon only works if the end is lower than the water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x6)
- Never siphon petrol with your mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/#x7)

### Note

Said «SY-fun». Spelling: siphon (more common) or syphon (also used in the UK). The ph sounds like f. A siphon needs the outlet to be lower than the surface of the liquid; it cannot lift water higher than it started.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «siphon» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphon/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«siphon» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/siphon.html) on Mova free.