English > English | |
winnow | |
1. v. (transitive, agriculture) To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff. | |
2. v. (transitive, figuratively) To separate, sift, analyze, or test by separating items having different values. | |
They winnowed the field to twelve. | |
They winnowed the winners from the losers. | |
They winnowed the losers from the winners. | |
3. v. (transitive, literary) To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings. | |
4. v. (intransitive, literary, dated) To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter. | |
5. n. That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain. | |