filter
filter Lexical Profile
filter Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A porous device or material used to remove impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it.
"We need to replace the water filter in the refrigerator."
A piece of software or hardware that processes data or signals to remove unwanted information or apply specific effects.
"The email client uses a sophisticated spam filter to block malicious messages."
• verb
To pass a liquid, gas, or other substance through a porous material in order to remove impurities.
"The treatment plant filters the river water before distributing it to residential homes."
To process or assess items, data, or information in order to reject what is unwanted or extract what is useful.
"Human resources uses an automated system to filter applications based on required keywords."
To move slowly or gradually in a specified direction (especially of light, sound, or people).
"Golden sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of the forest."
• Rhymes for filter
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'filtre', derived from Medieval Latin 'filtrum' meaning 'piece of felt' (which was historically used to strain liquids), ultimately of Germanic origin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.