Siphon

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Siphon \Si"phon\, n. [F. siphon, L. sipho, -onis, fr. Gr. ??? a
     siphon, tube, pipe.]
     1. A device, consisting of a pipe or tube bent so as to form
        two branches or legs of unequal length, by which a liquid
        can be transferred to a lower level, as from one vessel to
        another, over an intermediate elevation, by the action of


        the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up
        the shorter branch of the pipe immersed in it, while the
        continued excess of weight of the liquid in the longer
        branch (when once filled) causes a continuous flow. The
        flow takes place only when the discharging extremity of
        the pipe ia lower than the higher liquid surface, and when
        no part of the pipe is higher above the surface than the
        same liquid will rise by atmospheric pressure; that is,
        about 33 feet for water, and 30 inches for mercury, near
        the sea level.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.)
        (a) One of the tubes or folds of the mantle border of a
            bivalve or gastropod mollusk by which water is
            conducted into the gill cavity. See Illust. under
            {Mya}, and {Lamellibranchiata}.
        (b) The anterior prolongation of the margin of any
            gastropod shell for the protection of the soft siphon.
        (c) The tubular organ through which water is ejected from
            the gill cavity of a cephaloid. It serves as a
            locomotive organ, by guiding and confining the jet of
            water. Called also {siphuncle}. See Illust. under
            {Loligo}, and {Dibranchiata}.
        (d) The siphuncle of a cephalopod shell.
        (e) The sucking proboscis of certain parasitic insects and
            crustaceans.
        (f) A sproutlike prolongation in front of the mouth of
            many gephyreans.
        (g) A tubular organ connected both with the esophagus and
            the intestine of certain sea urchins and annelids.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A siphon bottle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Inverted siphon}, a tube bent like a siphon, but having the
        branches turned upward; specifically (Hydraulic
        Engineering), a pipe for conducting water beneath a
        depressed place, as from one hill to another across an
        intervening valley, following the depression of the
        ground.
  
     {Siphon barometer}. See under {Barometer}.
  
     {Siphon bottle}, a bottle for holding aerated water, which is
        driven out through a bent tube in the neck by the gas
        within the bottle when a valve in the tube is opened; --
        called also {gazogene}, and {siphoid}.
  
     {Siphon condenser}, a condenser for a steam engine, in which
        the vacuum is maintained by the downward flow of water
        through a vertical pipe of great height.
  
     {Siphon cup}, a cup with a siphon attached for carrying off
        any liquid in it; specifically (Mach.), an oil cup in
        which oil is carried over the edge of a tube in a cotton
        wick, and so reaches the surface to be lubricated.
  
     {Siphon gauge}. See under {Gauge}.
  
     {Siphon pump}, a jet pump. See under {Jet}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Siphon \Si"phon\, v. t. (Chem.)
     To convey, or draw off, by means of a siphon, as a liquid
     from one vessel to another at a lower level.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  siphon
       n : a tube running from the liquid in a vessel to a lower level
           outside the vessel so that atmospheric pressure forces
           the liquid through the tube [syn: {syphon}]
       v 1: convey, draw off, or empty by or as if by a siphon [syn: {syphon},
             {siphon off}]
       2: move a liquid from one container into another by means of a
          siphon or a siphoning action; "siphon gas into the tank"

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  82 Moby Thesaurus words for "siphon":
     adjutage, aspirator, bleed, broach, canalize, carry, catheter,
     channel, channelize, conduct, convey, corkscrew, crowbar, decant,
     draft, draft off, drain, drainpipe, draw, draw from, draw off,
     efflux tube, empty, exhaust, extractor, fire hose, flue pipe,
     flume, forceps, funnel, garden hose, gas pipe, hose, hosepipe, let,
     let blood, let out, milk, nipple, organ pipe, phlebotomize,
     pincers, pipe, pipeline, pipette, piping, pliers, press, pump,
     pump out, put through, put through channels, reed, reed pipe,
     separator, siamese, siamese connection, siphon off, snorkel,
     soil pipe, standpipe, steam pipe, stem, straw, suck, suck out, tap,
     traject, transmit, trench, tube, tubing, tubulation, tubule,
     tubulet, tubulure, tweezers, vacuum pump, venesect, waste pipe,
     water pipe, wringer