See Also: filter 2, verb(dictionary)
Filter(money)
filter(2)(dictionary)
Filter(tourism)
filter(1)(dictionary)
Filter(medicine)
filter tip(dictionary)
Filter(finance)
spatial filter(medicine)
filter-pressing(encyclopedia)

filter 2, verb (oh)



2 v
[T] to remove unwanted substances from water, air etc by passing it through a special substance or piece of equipment
::The water in the tank is constantly filtered.
::The ozone layer filters harmful UV rays from the sun.
[I always + adverb/preposition] if people filter somewhere, they move gradually to that place
::Chattering noisily, the crowd began to filter into the auditorium.
[I always + adverb/preposition] if news, information etc filters somewhere, people gradually hear about it from each other
::The news gradually filtered through from Bombay last night.
[I always + adverb/preposition] if light or sound filters into a place, it can be seen or heard only slightly
::Moonlight filtered in through the frosted window.
::The familiar notes of Beethoven's 'Fur Elise' filtered from the bar.
[I and T] BrE if traffic filters, or if a system filters it, cars can turn left or right while other vehicles going straight ahead must wait
filter out [filter sth ¡û¡ú out] phr v
to remove something, using a filter
::The pump filters out mud.
to remove words, information etc that you do not need or want
::Net users can filter out unwanted emails with software.