'Sieve' definitions:

Definition of 'sieve'

From: WordNet
noun
A strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles [syn: sieve, screen]
verb
Examine in order to test suitability; "screen these samples"; "screen the job applicants" [syn: screen, screen out, sieve, sort]
verb
Check and sort carefully; "sift the information" [syn: sieve, sift]
verb
Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour" [syn: sift, sieve, strain]
verb
Distinguish and separate out; "sift through the job candidates" [syn: sieve, sift]

Definition of 'Sieve'

From: GCIDE
  • Sieve \Sieve\, n. [OE. sive, AS. sife; akin to D. zeef, zift, OHG. sib, G. sieb. [root]151a. Cf. Sift.]
  • 1. A utensil for separating the finer and coarser parts of a pulverized or granulated substance from each other. It consist of a vessel, usually shallow, with the bottom perforated, or made of hair, wire, or the like, woven in meshes. "In a sieve thrown and sifted." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A kind of coarse basket. --Simmonds. [1913 Webster]
  • Sieve cells (Bot.), cribriform cells. See under Cribriform. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'sieve'

From: Moby Thesaurus