[win.now] vb [ME winewen, fr. OE windwian to fan, winnow; akin to OHG winton to fan, L vannus winnowing fan, ventus wind--more at wind] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): to remove (as chaff) by a current of air (2): to get rid of (something undesirable or unwanted): remove--often used with out "~ out certain inaccuracies --Stanley Walker" b (1): separate, sift "an old hand at ~ing what is true and significant --Oscar Lewis" (2): select
2. a: to treat (as grain) by exposure to a current of air so that waste matter is eliminated b: to free of unwanted or inferior elements: pare
3: to blow on: fan "the wind ~ing his thin white hair --Time" ~ vi 1: to separate chaff from grain by fanning
2: to separate desirable and undesirable elements -- win.now.er n
[2]winnow n (1580) 1: a device for winnowing
2. a: the action of winnowing b: a motion resembling that of winnowing