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winnows

  • present tense form
    of winnow (3rd person singular).
    winnow
    verb (used with object)
    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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Then the RNA winnows the contending olfactory-receptor genes down to one.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 21, 2023

The demise of languages winnows the number of prisms through which to refract the world.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2023

And while his company’s software winnows candidates, Mr. Garg emphasizes that it is meant to be a helper.

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2023

It progressively winnows out starlight, and stacks frame after frame to allow any faint planetary light to accumulate and eventually be seen.

From Scientific American ● Feb. 10, 2021

It winnows through the stones as we watch, bubbling into the undeserving earth.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen