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. 2023
How to use winnow in a sentence
When a great backlog grew in the processing of GI Bill claims, Zients winnowed it down.
Beware, Republicans: HealthCare.gov Will Rise Again | Michael Tomasky | November 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe show has now winnowed its contestant pool down to 10 hopefuls, and still most of the singers seem cowed by the cameras.
And thy oxen, and the ass colts that till the ground, shall eat mingled provender as it was winnowed in the floor.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousBassett winnowed these carefully, brushing the chaff into his wastebasket and retaining a few kernels for later use.
A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith NicholsonOver the lamentable procession hung a fog of gritty chalk particles that had been winnowed up by the plodding feet.
The Glory of The Coming | Irvin S. Cobb
She stopped and winnowed the air carefully through her sensitive nose.
Wild Folk | Samuel ScovilleAfter the calm the storm came, after the storm the rough winds and winnowed skies.
The Grey Cloak | Harold MacGrath
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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