[sift] 
| 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. |
| 6. | to sift something. |
| 7. | to pass or fall through or as if through a sieve. |
| sift (sĭft) v. sift·ed, sift·ing, sifts v. tr.
[Middle English siften, from Old English siftan.] sift'er n. |
