filter

Pluralfilters

Formsfilters, filtering, filtered

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A device that removes unwanted bits from a liquid or gas as it passes through.

   Like a strainer that holds back the food bits but lets the water drain away.

   Pour the water through a filter to catch the dirt.

   The fish tank has a filter that keeps the water clean.

   Similarstrainer, sieve, screen

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To go through a group of things and keep only the ones you want.

   Like picking out only the red candies from a big mixed bowl.

   You can filter the search results to show only cheap flights.

   She filtered the emails and deleted the junk.

   Similarsort, sift, screen, winnow

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A digital effect that changes how a photo or video looks, often on social media.

   Like sunglasses for your photo that change its colors.

   She added a filter to make the sunset look brighter.

   This filter gives your selfie cute dog ears.

   Similareffect, preset

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A part of a device that blocks unwanted signals or sounds and lets the wanted ones through.

   Like a door that lets your friends in but keeps strangers out.

   The radio's filter cuts out the background hiss.

   A good filter removes the hum from the recording.

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A clear or colored piece placed in front of a camera lens to block some light or colors.

   Like tinted glasses that change the colors your camera sees.

   He screwed a filter onto his lens to deepen the blue sky.

   A red filter made the photo look warmer.

   Note
6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To move slowly through a material that holds part of it back.

   Like sunshine slipping between the slats of a fence.

   Sunlight began to filter through the curtains.

   The coffee filtered slowly into the pot.

   Similarseep, trickle, stream, drift, leak

7. 7
   nounfigurativelycountable

   The good sense to hold back rude or hurtful words before saying them.

   Like a gate on your mouth that stops bad words before they get out.

   He has no filter and says whatever pops into his head.

   She spoke without a filter and offended half the room.

   Similartact, discretion, restraint

   Note
8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To move somewhere slowly, a few people at a time.

   Like sand trickling slowly through the neck of an hourglass.

   Fans began to filter into the stadium an hour before kickoff.

   Guests filtered out of the hall after the speeches ended.

   Similartrickle, drift, straggle, spread, percolate

   Oppositepour, flood

9. 9
   nouncountable

   Anything that works to separate or keep apart, whether an object or a method.

   Like a sieve that keeps the big stones and lets small sand fall away.

   The interview acts as a filter to pick the best candidates.

   Strict rules served as a filter against weak applications.

   Similarscreen, sieve

10. 10
    verbtransitive

    To spread something out so it becomes weaker or less focused.

    Like a lampshade that softens a bright bulb.

    The thin clouds filter the harsh sunlight.

    Soft shades filtered the bright glare in the room.

    Similardiffuse, soften, dapple

    Oppositefocus, concentrate

    Note

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