v.
1. tr. sieve (material) into finer and coarser parts.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by from, out) separate (finer or coarser parts) from material.
3 tr. sprinkle (esp. sugar) from a perforated container.
4 tr. examine (evidence, facts, etc.) in order to assess authenticity etc.
5 intr. (of snow, light, etc.) fall as if from a sieve.
Phrases and idioms:
sift through examine by sifting.
Derivatives:
sifter n. (also in comb.).
Etymology: OE siftan f. WG