verb (used with object)
1.
to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
2.
to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve: to sift sugar onto cake.
3.
to separate by or as if by a sieve.
4.
to examine closely: The detectives are still sifting the evidence.
5.
to question closely.
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Sift
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to flee; abscond: |
Origin:
before 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve
before 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve
Related forms
out·sift, verb (used with object)
pre·sift, verb (used with object)
re·sift, verb (used with object)
un·sift·ed, adjective
Synonyms
4. sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.
4. sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To sift
Collins
World English Dictionary
sift (sɪft) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (tr) to sieve (sand, flour, etc) in order to remove the coarser particles |
| 2. | to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve |
| 3. | (tr) to separate with or as if with a sieve; distinguish between |
| 4. | (tr) to examine minutely: to sift evidence |
| 5. | (intr) to move as if through a sieve |
| [Old English siftan; related to Middle Low German siften to sift, Dutch ziften; see | |
| 'sifter | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sift
O.E. siftan "pass something through a sieve," related to sife (see sieve). Cf. Du. ziften, M.L.G. sichten, Ger. sichten "to sift." Metaphoric sense of "look carefully through" first recorded 1535.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
SIFT definition
SHARE Internal Fortran Translator. Translation utility designed for converting Fortran II to Fortran IV. The word "sift" was often used as a verb to describe converting code from one language to another. Sammet 1969, p.153.
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