Search Result for "winnow": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the act of separating grain from chaff;
- Example: "the winnowing was done by women"
[syn: winnow, winnowing, sifting]


VERB (4)

1. separate the chaff from by using air currents;
- Example: "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field"
[syn: winnow, fan]

2. blow on;
- Example: "The wind was winnowing her hair"
- Example: "the wind winnowed the grass"

3. select desirable parts from a group or list;
- Example: "cull out the interesting letters from the poet's correspondence"
- Example: "winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants"
[syn: cull out, winnow]

4. blow away or off with a current of air;
- Example: "winnow chaff"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Winnow \Win"now\ (w[i^]n"n[-o]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Winnowed
   (w[i^]n"n[-o]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Winnowing.] [OE. windewen,
   winewen, AS. windwian; akin to Goth. winpjan (in comp.),
   winpi-skauro a fan, L. ventilare to fan, to winnow; cf. L.
   wannus a fan for winnowing, G. wanne, OHG. wanna. [root]131.
   See Wind moving air, and cf. Fan., n., Ventilate.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of
      wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain.
      [1913 Webster]

            Ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor.
                                                  --Ruth. iii.
                                                  2.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from
      truth; to separate, as bad from good.
      [1913 Webster]

            Winnow well this thought, and you shall find
            This light as chaff that flies before the wind.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To beat with wings, or as with wings.[Poetic]
      [1913 Webster]

            Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan
            Winnows the buxom air.                --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Winnow \Win"now\, v. i.
   To separate chaff from grain.
   [1913 Webster]

         Winnow not with every wind.              --Ecclus. v.
                                                  9.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

winnow
    n 1: the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was
         done by women" [syn: winnow, winnowing, sifting]
    v 1: separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood
         there winnowing chaff all day in the field" [syn: winnow,
         fan]
    2: blow on; "The wind was winnowing her hair"; "the wind
       winnowed the grass"
    3: select desirable parts from a group or list; "cull out the
       interesting letters from the poet's correspondence"; "winnow
       the finalists from the long list of applicants" [syn: cull
       out, winnow]
    4: blow away or off with a current of air; "winnow chaff"