winnow

[ win-oh ]

/ ˈwɪn oʊ /

verb (used with object)

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.

to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.

to blow upon; fan.

to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift: to winnow a mass of statements.

to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes followed by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.

to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.

to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.

verb (used without object)

to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.

to fly with flapping wings; flutter.

noun

a device or contrivance used for winnowing.

an act of winnowing.

Origin of winnow

before 900; Middle English win(d)wen (v.), Old English windwian, derivative of wind wind¹

OTHER WORDS FROM winnow

win·now·er, noun un·win·nowed, adjective

Words nearby winnow

winnipeg couch, winnipegger, winnipegosis, winnipesaukee, winnock, winnow, winny, wino, winona, winslet, winslow

Example sentences from the Web for winnower

This accomplished, the grain is freed from chaff by tossing it in a winnower.

The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao |Fay-Cooper Cole
The medium takes the head-axe, and then the two women take hold of the winnower with their free hands.

The Tinguian |Fay-Cooper Cole
The sale of his “Winnower” had brought him five hundred francs, and these five hundred francs gave him courage to defy the world.

The History of Modern Painting, Volume 2 (of 4) |Richard Muther
So Millet painted his first wonderful peasant picture "The Winnower," and just as the family were starving he sold it--for $100.

Pictures Every Child Should Know |Dolores Bacon

These she placed on a winnower, which in turn was set on a rice-mortar.

The Tinguian |Fay-Cooper Cole

British Dictionary definitions for winnower

winnow

/ (ˈwɪnəʊ) /

verb

to separate (grain) from (chaff) by means of a wind or current of air

(tr) to examine in order to select the desirable elements

(tr) archaic to beat (the air) with wings

(tr) rare to blow upon; fan

noun

a device for winnowing
the act or process of winnowing

Derived forms of winnow

winnower, noun

Word Origin for winnow

Old English windwian; related to Old High German wintōn, Gothic diswinthjan, Latin ventilāre. See wind 1

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

winnow

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of winnow

OTHER WORDS FROM winnow

Words nearby winnow

Example sentences from the Web for winnower

British Dictionary definitions for winnower

verb

noun

Derived forms of winnow

Word Origin for winnow

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

winnow

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of winnow

OTHER WORDS FROM winnow

Words nearby winnow

Example sentences from the Web for winnower

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for winnower

verb

noun

Derived forms of winnow

Word Origin for winnow

British Dictionary definitions for winnower