winnow
Use Winnow in a sentence
oʊ verb (used with object)
1.
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.
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 followed by out ): to winnow falsehood from truth.
verb (used without object)
8.
to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
9.
to fly with flapping wings; flutter.
00:10
Winnow
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| chat, to converse |
noun
10.
a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
11.
an act of winnowing.
Related forms
win·now·er, noun
un·win·nowed, adjective
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.
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Link To winnow
Collins
World English Dictionary
winnow (ˈwɪnəʊ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to separate (grain) from (chaff) by means of a wind or current of air |
| 2. | (tr) to examine in order to select the desirable elements |
| 3. | archaic (tr) to beat (the air) with wings |
| 4. | rare (tr) to blow upon; fan |
| —n | |
| 5. | a. a device for winnowing |
| b. the act or process of winnowing | |
| [Old English windwian; related to Old High German wintōn, Gothic diswinthjan, Latin ventilāre. See | |
| 'winnower | |
| —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
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
winnow
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Easton
Bible Dictionary
Winnow definition
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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Example sentences
Essentially, waves can winnow all the other grain sizes away.
They would then parch the shells to make them brittle, crack them with a metate, and winnow the nuts with a fan tray.
Somebody must winnow out the genuine contributions by reading everything, good and bad alike.
But this administration is going to have to winnow them down.
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