v.
Pronunciation: ' sift
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English siftan; akin to Old English sife sieve
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 a : to put through a sieve < sift flour> b : to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve
2 : to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable < sift ed the evidence> ― often used with through < sift through a pile of old letters>
3 : to scatter by or as if by sifting < sift sugar on a cake>
intransitive verb
1 : to use a sieve
2 : to pass or fall as if through a sieve
– sift · er noun