The act of separating grain from chaff:
— The winnowing was done by women.

synonyms: sifting, winnowing.

Polish: przesiew, odsiew

Separate the chaff from grain by using air currents.

Roget 42: render simple etc. adj.; simplify.    sift, winnow, bolt, eliminate; exclude, get rid of; clear; purify etc. (clean) 652; disentangle etc. (disjoin) 44.    ... show more

Roget 652: be clean, render clean etc. adj.; clean, cleanse; mundify^†, rinse, wring, flush, full, wipe, mop, sponge, scour, swab, scrub, brush up.    wash, lave, launder, buck; absterge^†, deterge^†; decrassify^†; clear, purify; depurate^†, despumate^†, defecate; purge, expurgate, elutriate [Chem], lixiviate^†, edulcorate^†, clarify, refine, rack; filter, filtrate; drain, strain.    disinfect, fumigate, ventilate, deodorize; whitewash; castrate, emasculate.    sift, winnow, pick, weed, comb, rake, brush, sweep.    rout out, clear out, sweep out &c.; make a clean sweep of.    ... show more

Roget 609: offers one's choice, set before; hold out the alternative, present the alternative, offer the alternative; put to the vote.    use option, use discretion, exercise option, exercise discretion, one's option; adopt, take up, embrace, espouse; choose, elect, opt for; take one's choice, make one's choice; make choice of, fix upon.    vote, poll, hold up one's hand; divide.    settle; decide etc. (adjudge) 480; list etc. (will) 600; make up one's mind etc. (resolve) 604.    select; pick and choose; pick out, single out; cull, glean, winnow; sift the chaff from the wheat, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat; pick up, pitch upon; pick one's way; indulge one's fancy.    set apart, mark out for; mark etc. 550.    prefer; have rather, have as lief; fancy etc. (desire) 865; be persuaded etc. 615.    take a decided step, take a decisive step; commit oneself to a course; pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon; cast in one's lot with; take for better or for worse.    ... show more

Roget 55: be excluded from &c.; exclude, bar; leave out, shut out, bar out; reject, repudiate, blackball; lay apart, put apart, set apart, lay aside, put aside; relegate, segregate; throw overboard; strike off, strike out; neglect etc. 460; banish etc. (seclude) 893; separate etc. (disjoin) 44.    pass over, omit; garble; eliminate, weed, winnow.    ... show more

Roget 461: make inquiry etc. n.; inquire, ask, seek, search.    look for, look about for, look out for; scan, reconnoiter, explore, sound, rummage, ransack, pry, peer, look round; look over, go over, look through, go through; spy, overhaul.    [object is a topic] ask about, inquire about.    scratch the head, slap the forehead.    look into every hole and corner, peer into every hole and corner, pry into every hole and corner; nose; trace up; search out, hunt down, hunt out, fish out, ferret out; unearth; leave no stone unturned.    seek a clue, seek a clew; hunt, track, trail, mouse, dodge, trace; follow the trail, follow the scent; pursue etc. 662; beat up one's quarters; fish for; feel for etc. (experiment) 463.    investigate; take up an inquiry, institute an inquiry, pursue an inquiry, follow up an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, carry on an inquiry, carry out an inquiry, prosecute an inquiry etc. n.; look at, look into; preexamine; discuss, canvass, agitate.    [inquire into a topic] examine, study, consider, calculate; dip into, dive into, delve into, go deep into; make sure of, probe, sound, fathom; probe to the bottom, probe to the quick; scrutinize, analyze, anatomize, dissect, parse, resolve, sift, winnow; view in all its phases, try in all its phases; thresh out.    bring in question, bring into question, subject to examination; put to the proof etc. (experiment) 463; audit, tax, pass in review; take into consideration etc. (think over) 451; take counsel etc. 695.    question, demand; put the question, pop the question, propose the question, propound the question, moot the question, start the question, raise the question, stir the question, suggest the question, put forth the question, ventilate the question, grapple with the question, go into a question.    [human object], question, put to the question, interrogate, pump; subject to interrogation, subject to examination; cross-question, cross-examine; press for an answer; give the third degree; put to the inquisition; dodge^†.    catechize.    require an answer; pick the brains of, suck the brains of; feel the pulse.    get the lay of the land; see how the wind is blowing; put one's ear to the ground.    be in question etc. adj.; undergo examination.    ... show more

Dutch: wannen

Blow on.

Select desirable parts from a group or list:
— Winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants.

synonym: cull out.

Blow away or off with a current of air:
— Winnow chaff.

synonym: fan.