winnow

About 0.08 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
2. verb To separate, sift, analyse, or test by separating items having different values.

   They winnowed the field to twelve.

3. verb To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
4. verb To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter.
5. noun That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.
6. noun The act of winnowing

Similar words

sifting fan sift wind winnow the wheat from the chaff eventilate dress thresh out sort the wheat from the chaff separate the wheat from the chaff

Often followed by

the out and it down them from through away

Word family

winnowed winnower winnowers winnowing winnows