winnow

Plural: winnows

Noun

• the act of separating grain from chaff
  • "the winnowing was done by women"
• That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.
• The act of winnowing

Verb

Verb Forms: winnowed, winnowing, winnows

• To separate grain from chaff by air current; to filter out.
• separate the chaff from by using air currents
  • "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field"
• blow on
  • "The wind was winnowing her hair"
  • "the wind winnowed the grass"
• select desirable parts from a group or list
  • "winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants"
• blow away or off with a current of air
  • "winnow chaff"
• To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
• To separate, sift, analyse, or test by separating items having different values.
• To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
• To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter.

Examples

• He had to WINNOW through his letters to find the best possible Scrabble word.
• They winnowed the field to twelve.
• They winnowed the losers from the winners.
• They winnowed the winners from the losers.

Synonyms

cull out, fan, sifting, winnowing, comb out, wind#Verb

Anagrams of winnow