winnow

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: winnowingsiftingfancull out

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the act of separating grain from chaff“the winnowing was done by women”Synonyms: winnowingsifting

Verb (4)

  1. separate the chaff from by using air currents“She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field”Synonyms: 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”Synonyms: cull out
  4. blow away or off with a current of air“winnow chaff”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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

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

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