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winnow
6 dictionary results for: Winnow
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
win·now       [win-oh] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object)
1.to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., esp. 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 fol. by out): 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)
8.to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
9.to fly with flapping wings; flutter.
–noun
10.a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
11.an act of winnowing.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME win(d)wen (v.), OE windwian, deriv. of wind wind1]

—Related forms
win·now·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
win·now       (wĭn'ō)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   win·nowed, win·now·ing, win·nows

v.   tr.
    1. To separate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air.
    2. To rid of undesirable parts.
    3. To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
    4. To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.
  2. To blow (chaff) off or away.
  3. To blow away; scatter.
  4. To blow on; fan: a breeze winnowing the tall grass.
  5. To examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad; sift.
    1. To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
    2. To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.

v.   intr.
  1. To separate grain from chaff.
  2. To separate the good from the bad.

n.  
  1. A device for winnowing grain.
  2. An act of winnowing.


[Middle English winnewen, alteration of windwen, from Old English windwian, from wind, wind; see wind1.]

win'now·er n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
winnow  (v.)
O.E. windwian, from wind "air in motion, paring down," see wind (n.). Cognate with O.N. vinza, O.H.G. winton "to fan, winnow," Goth. diswinþjan "to throw (grain) apart," L. vannus "winnowing fan."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
winnow

noun
1. the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was done by women" 

verb
1. separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field" 
2. blow on; "The wind was winnowing her hair"; "the wind winnowed the grass" 
3. select desirable parts from a group or list; "cull out the interesting letters from the poet's correspondence"; "winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants" [syn: cull out] 
4. blow away or off with a current of air; "winnow chaff" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Winnow

Win"now\, v. i. To separate chaff from grain.

Winnow not with every wind. --Ecclus. v. 9.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Winnow

Corn was winnowed, (1.) By being thrown up by a shovel against the wind. As a rule this was done in the evening or during the night, when the west wind from the sea was blowing, which was a moderate breeze and fitted for the purpose. The north wind was too strong, and the east wind came in gusts. (2.) By the use of a fan or van, by which the chaff was blown away (Ruth 3:2; Isa. 30:24; Jer. 4:11, 12; Matt. 3:12).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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