winnow
to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., especially by throwing it into the air and allowing the wind or a forced current of air to blow away impurities.
to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.
to blow upon; fan.
to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift: to winnow a mass of statements.
to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes followed by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.
to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.
to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.
to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
to fly with flapping wings; flutter.
a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
an act of winnowing.
Origin of winnow
1Other words from winnow
- win·now·er, noun
- un·win·nowed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use winnow in a sentence
The poll is a brutal winnower of the field, sometimes shrinking it within days, and no one has more at stake than Tim Pawlenty.
While the artisans fought on the barricades he was painting “The Winnower.”
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 2 (of 4) | Richard MutherThe payment to the winnower is at the rate of fourpence per five bushels.
The Khedive's Country | George Manville FennAs soon as the chaff was removed she emptied the rice into her basket and covered it with the winnower.
Philippine Folk Tales | Mabel Cook ColeFrom all this living worldA music as of wind and water ran, Or as of grain in rhythmic motion swirledBy the swift winnower's fan.
Baudelaire: His Prose and Poetry | Charles Baudelaire
The sale of his “Winnower” had brought him five hundred francs, and these five hundred francs gave him courage to defy the world.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 2 (of 4) | Richard Muther
British Dictionary definitions for winnow
/ (ˈwɪnəʊ) /
to separate (grain) from (chaff) by means of a wind or current of air
(tr) to examine in order to select the desirable elements
(tr) archaic to beat (the air) with wings
(tr) rare to blow upon; fan
a device for winnowing
the act or process of winnowing
Origin of winnow
1Derived forms of winnow
- winnower, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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