'Winnow' definitions:

Definition of 'winnow'

From: WordNet
noun
The act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was done by women" [syn: winnow, winnowing, sifting]
verb
Separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field" [syn: winnow, fan]
verb
Blow on; "The wind was winnowing her hair"; "the wind winnowed the grass"
verb
Select desirable parts from a group or list; "cull out the interesting letters from the poet's correspondence"; "winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants" [syn: cull out, winnow]
verb
Blow away or off with a current of air; "winnow chaff"

Definition of 'Winnow'

From: GCIDE
  • Winnow \Win"now\ (w[i^]n"n[-o]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Winnowed (w[i^]n"n[-o]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Winnowing.] [OE. windewen, winewen, AS. windwian; akin to Goth. winpjan (in comp.), winpi-skauro a fan, L. ventilare to fan, to winnow; cf. L. wannus a fan for winnowing, G. wanne, OHG. wanna. [root]131. See Wind moving air, and cf. Fan., n., Ventilate.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain. [1913 Webster]
  • Ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. --Ruth. iii. 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth; to separate, as bad from good. [1913 Webster]
  • Winnow well this thought, and you shall find This light as chaff that flies before the wind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To beat with wings, or as with wings.[Poetic] [1913 Webster]
  • Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Winnow'

From: GCIDE
  • Winnow \Win"now\, v. i. To separate chaff from grain. [1913 Webster]
  • Winnow not with every wind. --Ecclus. v. 9. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Winnow'

From: Easton
  • Winnow Corn was winnowed,
  • By being thrown up by a shovel against the wind. As a rule this was done in the evening or during the night, when the west wind from the sea was blowing, which was a moderate breeze and fitted for the purpose. The north wind was too strong, and the east wind came in gusts.
  • By the use of a fan or van, by which the chaff was blown away (Ruth 3:2; Isa. 30:24; Jer. 4:11, 12; Matt. 3:12).

Words containing 'Winnow'