SIFT

verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ~an; akin to Old English sife sieve Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to put through a sieve , to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve, to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable , to scatter by or as if by ~ing , intransitive verb to use a sieve, to pass or fall as if through a sieve, ~er noun