Sekirov Dictionary

winnow

UK /ˈwɪnəʊ/US /ˈwɪnoʊ/

verb 4
noun 2
forms 5
phrases 2

verb4

•
To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
- By Jacob Behel, of Mifflintown, Pa.,—Improvement in winnowing Machines, Patented August 21, 1847. — 1847
•
(figurative) To separate, sift, analyse, or test by separating items having different values.
- They winnowed the field to twelve.
- They winnowed the winners from the losers.
•
(literary) To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
- The light snow lay on the narrow and winding path before them, pure as if just fresh winnowed by the wind. — 1834
(literary, old-fashioned) To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter.

noun2

The act of winnowing
That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.

forms

winnowed · winnowing · winnoweth · winnows · winnowest

Phrases with winnow

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