winnow

[ win-oh ]

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.

6. to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.
7. to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.

verb (used without object)

1. to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
2. to fly with flapping wings; flutter.

noun

1. a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
2. an act of winnowing.

winnow

/ ˈwɪnəʊ /

verb

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

noun

1. 1. a device for winnowing
   2. the act or process of winnowing

Derived Forms

• ˈwinnower, noun

Other Words From

• winnow·er noun
• un·winnowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of winnow¹

before 900; Middle English win ( d ) wen (v.), Old English windwian, derivative of wind wind ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of winnow¹

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

Example Sentences

Even at these lower-than-recommended levels, her appetite soon winnowed and she began to shed weight.

From Los Angeles Times

With streamers and premium cable networks cornering the market on “prestige” dramas that prioritize serialized stories told over a winnowing number of episodes and seasons, broadcast network shows like “9-1-1” are a pleasant reprieve.

From Los Angeles Times

The music didn’t so much stop for the line as fade out: the leg to Leeds was winnowed away and lost finally in 2021.

From BBC

The field of candidates would be winnowed down by a committee before being added to ballots.

From Los Angeles Times

The move, which the company said was meant to help employees seeking additional hours, contributed to an overall winnowing of its workforce.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• analyze
• discriminate
• distinguish
• separate
• sift