winnow

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English wyndwen, from Old English windwian (“to winnow, fan, ventilate”), from Proto-West Germanic *windwōn, from Proto-Germanic *windwōną, *winþijaną (“to throw about, winnow”), from Proto-Indo-European *wē- (“to winnow, thresh”). Cognate with West Frisian wynje (“to winnow”), dialectal Dutch winden, winnen (“to winnow”), Middle High German winden (“to winnow”), Icelandic vinsa (“to pick out, weed”), Latin vannus (“a winnowing basket”). See fan, van. === Pronunciation === (US) IPA(key): /ˈwɪnoʊ/ (UK) IPA(key): /ˈwɪnəʊ/ Rhymes: -ɪnəʊ === Verb === winnow (third-person singular simple present winnows, present participle winnowing, simple past and past participle winnowed) (transitive, agriculture, literal) To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff. Synonym: wind (transitive, figuratively) To separate, sift, analyse, or test by separating items having different values. Synonym: comb out (transitive, literary) To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings. (intransitive, literary, dated) To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter. ==== Usage notes ==== Used with the adverb or preposition down; see also winnow down. Used with the adverbs or prepositions through, away, and out. ==== Hyponyms ==== winnow down ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === winnow (plural winnows) That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain. The act of winnowing ==== Translations ==== === References === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “winnow”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “winnow”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “winnow”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.