WINNOW
Dictionary entry overview: What does winnow mean?
• WINNOW (noun)
The noun WINNOW has 1 sense:
1. the act of separating grain from chaff
Familiarity information: WINNOW used as a noun is very rare.
• WINNOW (verb)
The verb WINNOW has 4 senses:
1. separate the chaff from by using air currents
2. blow on
3. select desirable parts from a group or list
4. blow away or off with a current of air
Familiarity information: WINNOW used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• WINNOW (noun)
Meaning:
The act of separating grain from chaff
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
sifting; winnow; winnowing
Context example:
the winnowing was done by women
Hypernyms ("winnow" is a kind of...):
separation (sorting one thing from others)
• WINNOW (verb)
Meaning:
Separate the chaff from by using air currents
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
winnow; fan
Context example:
She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field
Hypernyms (to "winnow" is one way to...):
sieve; sift; strain (separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Blow on
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context examples:
The wind was winnowing her hair / the wind winnowed the grass
Hypernyms (to "winnow" is one way to...):
fan (agitate the air)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Select desirable parts from a group or list
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
cull out; winnow
Context examples:
cull out the interesting letters from the poet's correspondence / winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants
Hypernyms (to "winnow" is one way to...):
choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Blow away or off with a current of air
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
winnow chaff
Hypernyms (to "winnow" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
