filter

¹fil·ter

noun \ˈfil-tər\

Definition of FILTER

1

a : a porous article or mass (as of paper or sand) through which a gas or liquid is passed to separate out matter in suspension b : an apparatus containing a filter medium

2

a : a device or material for suppressing or minimizing waves or oscillations of certain frequencies (as of electricity, light, or sound) b : a transparent material (as colored glass) that absorbs light of certain wavelengths or colors selectively and is used for modifying light that reaches a sensitized photographic material —called also color filter

3

: something that has the effect of a filter (as by holding back elements or modifying the appearance of something) <his work is too often viewed through the filter of race — Brent Staples>

4

: software for sorting or blocking access to certain online material

Examples of FILTER

1. She smokes cigarettes with filters.
2. He placed a red filter on the camera lens.
3. digital filters that stop high-frequency sounds

Origin of FILTER

Middle English filtre, from Medieval Latin filtrum piece of felt used as a filter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German filz felt — more at felt

First Known Use: 1563

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with FILTER

jilter, kilter, philter, quilter, tilter