sift

[ sift ]

/ sɪft /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sift ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.

to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve: to sift sugar onto cake.

to separate by or as if by a sieve.

to examine closely: The detectives are still sifting the evidence.

to question closely.

verb (used without object)

to sift something.

to pass or fall through or as if through a sieve.

Nearby words

sieyès, sieyès, emmanuel joseph, sif, sifaka, sifnos, sift, sifter, siftings, sig, sig., siganid

Origin of sift

before 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve

SYNONYMS FOR sift

4 sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sift ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsout·sift, verb (used with object)pre·sift, verb (used with object)re·sift, verb (used with object)un·sift·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sift

Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies|Ina Garten|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But should you lack the energy to sift through the glut of options yourself, we can at least helpfully endorse this one.
WGN’s ‘Manhattan’ Is Summer’s Best New Show. But Will Anyone Watch?|Kevin Fallon|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if you can sift through all of the legal posturing, a fairly accurate portrait of Sterling himself does begin to emerge.
Donald Sterling’s New Defense: Look at All the Blacks I’ve Hired|Robert Silverman|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sift the dry ingredients over a piece of parchment paper and then pour into a medium bowl.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People|Cat Cora|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It is advice to sift, pore over, and weigh up, with a view to us deciding for ourselves.
John Sutherland‘s Enjoyable Little History of Literature|Malcolm Forbes|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Sift flour several times before using for sponge cake, as tins causes the flour to become lighter.
Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled during Her Visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans"|Edith M. Thomas
For the dumplings, sift together one cup of flour and two even teaspoons of baking powder.
Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled during Her Visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans"|Edith M. Thomas
Add the cream of tartar to the flour after measuring and sift once more.
The Community Cook Book|Anonymous
If you are forced to give your hens or chickens meal, you must sift it fine and scald it and cool it.
A Complete Edition of the Works of Nancy Luce|Nancy Luce
When the dish is full pour over it a cupful of milk and sift fine crumbs over the top, and add some more bits of butter.
The Fun of Cooking|Caroline French Benton

British Dictionary definitions for sift

sift

/ (sɪft) /

verb

(tr) to sieve (sand, flour, etc) in order to remove the coarser particles

to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve

(tr) to separate with or as if with a sieve; distinguish between

(tr) to examine minutelyto sift evidence

(intr) to move as if through a sieve

Derived Formssifter, noun

Word Origin for sift

Old English siftan; related to Middle Low German siften to sift, Dutch ziften; see sieve

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

Word Origin and History for sift

sift

Old English siftan "pass (something) through a sieve," from Proto-Germanic *sib- (cf. Dutch ziften, Middle Low German sichten, German sichten "to sift;" see sieve (n.)). Intransitive sense "to pass loosely or fall scatteredly" is from 1590s. Metaphoric sense of "look carefully through" first recorded 1530s. Related: Sifted; sifting.

sift

.css-1gxch3{color:#1a1a1a;font-size:18px;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;}verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of sift

Examples from the Web for sift

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} sift

sift

verb

Word Origin for sift

Word Origin and History for sift

sift

verb (used with object)

British Dictionary definitions for sift