filter

1 of 2

noun

fil·​ter ˈfil-tər 

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 (such 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

filter

2 of 2

verb

filtered; filtering ˈfil-t(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to subject to the action of a filter

2

: to remove by means of a filter

intransitive verb

1

: to pass or move through or as if through a filter

2

: to come or go in small units over a period of time

people began filtering in

Synonyms

Verb

• screen
• strain

Examples of filter in a Sentence

Noun

She smokes cigarettes with filters.

He placed a red filter on the camera lens.

digital filters that stop high-frequency sounds

Verb

They've begun filtering their water to remove impurities.

a device that filters impurities from water

sunglasses that filter ultraviolet light

Sunlight filtered through the leaves.

His ideas have filtered down to his children.

The crowd filtered into the arena.

Early election returns have begun to filter in.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yet, if festivals and markets function ever more as filters of new talent, which far out-number market capacity, this is all the more true of Proyecta. —Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023

To turn off a specific filter, tap Filtered by again, then deselect it. —Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023

There is also routine maintenance involved with changing filters. —Emily Shiffer, Parents, 22 Nov. 2023

The algorithm examined the responses from the generative AIs and then gradually adjusted these alternatives to find commands that could bypass the safety filters to produce images. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Nov. 2023

Most commercial airplanes have HEPA filters that remove bacteria, viruses, and fungi from the air. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 20 Nov. 2023

Unlike most other Dyson stick models, this version has a true HEPA filter. —Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023

The ‘Limescale Expert’ filter cartridges are especially helpful for appliance longevity and keeping your coffee machines flake-free, too. —Lela London, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

The double safety feature has a removable filter which protects your hair from getting sucked into the fan. —Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023

Verb

Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength is non-chill filtered and has no color added. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023

Then, after being stored, the water is filtered again before drinking. —Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023

In a deal explainer meeting Monday, Crabtree-Ireland filtered more than 1,000 questions, with one person asking if actors could be required to give AI consent as a condition of employment. —Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023

Inside Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos’s Beverly Hills Engagement Party As the latter decade panned out, the simplicity of the trend cycle filtered into Diana’s wardrobe. —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023

Sonos products could receive corrupted audio from that connection but were failing to filter out those bits, playing them instead. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023

Advertisement The water, which emerges from the foothills of Mt. Pinos, is filtered in two tubs, and then piped with gravity to tanks that supply the farm. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023

Watching the way light filters through an exoplanet’s atmosphere as the planet crosses in front of its star can reveal the structure and chemical composition of otherworldly atmospheres. —Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2023

And as people filtered out, Ham turned to assistant coach Chris Jent with an idea. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English filtre "felt, felt carpet, piece of felt used as a filter," borrowed from Medieval Latin filtrum "felt cloth, cover or blanket of felt, piece of felt used as a filter," borrowed from *filtir (going back to *filtizō) in a West Germanic language, plural of *filt-, *felt- "felted cloth" — more at felt entry 1

Verb

derivative of filter entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1576, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing filter

• color filter
• band-pass filter
• filter bed
• filter bubble
• spam filter
• filter tip
• filter paper
• filter feeder

• color filter
• band-pass filter
• filter bed
• filter bubble
• spam filter
• filter tip
• filter paper
• filter feeder

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Kids Definition

filter

1 of 2 noun

fil·​ter ˈfil-tər 

1

: a substance with pores through which a gas or liquid is passed to separate out floating matter

2

: a device containing a filter

3

: a transparent material (as colored glass) that absorbs light of some wavelengths and is used to change light (as in photography)

filter

2 of 2 verb

filtered; filtering -t(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to expose to the action of a filter

2

: to remove by means of a filter

3

: to pass through or as if through a filter

Medical Definition

filter

1 of 2 noun

fil·​ter ˈfil-tər 

1

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

2

: an apparatus containing a filter medium

3

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

filter

2 of 2 verb

filtered; filtering -t(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to subject to the action of a filter

2

: to remove by means of a filter

intransitive verb

: to pass or move through or as if through a filter