winnow

[win-oh]

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

2. to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.

3. to blow upon; fan.

4. to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift.

   to winnow a mass of statements.

5. to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes followed byout ).

   to winnow falsehood from truth.

6. to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.

7. to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.

verb (used without object)

1. to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.

2. to fly with flapping wings; flutter.

noun

1. a device or contrivance used for winnowing.

2. an act of winnowing.

winnow

/ ˈwɪnəʊ /

verb

1. to separate (grain) from (chaff) by means of a wind or current of air

2. (tr) to examine in order to select the desirable elements

3. archaic,  (tr) to beat (the air) with wings

4. rare,  (tr) to blow upon; fan

noun

1. 1. a device for winnowing

   2. the act or process of winnowing

Other Word Forms

• winnower noun
• unwinnowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of winnow¹

before 900; Middle English win ( d ) wen (v.), Old English windwian, derivative of wind wind ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of winnow¹

Old English windwian; related to Old High German wintōn, Gothic diswinthjan, Latin ventilāre. See _wind ¹

Example Sentences

How was she to winnow down her countless questions to a mere troika?

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But its allure is being winnowed away by the noxious Russian thistle, the spread of which is entirely the fault of the ceaseless and unforgiving prairie wind.

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A winnowed cattle supply has driven up prices.

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Squeezing through its aperture, it’s easy to reflect on the winnowing that happens at the end of our days, as physical, mental and other abilities slowly fade.

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Faced with far more applications than slots, prestigious colleges winnow the pool of prospective admits through consideration of their academic records, test scores, activities and personal attributes.

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Related Words

• analyze 
• discriminate 
• distinguish 
• separate 
• sift