I. ˈwi(ˌ)nō, -_nə, often -_əw+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English winewen, windewen, from Old English windwian to fan, winnow; akin to Old High German wintōn to fan, winnow, Gothic dis winthjan, Latin ventilare to fan, winnow, vannus winnowing fan, ventus wind — more at wind
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to separate and drive off (as chaff) by subjection to wind or a current of air
(2) : to get rid of (as that which is undesirable or unwanted) : take out : delete , remove — often used with out
winnow out certain inaccuracies — Stanley Walker
b. : to analyze and assort to obtain the most desirable : select , separate , sift
winnowed out facts and probabilities from prejudices — William Vogt
an old hand at winnowing what is true and significant — Oscar Lewis
2.
a. : to treat (as grain) by exposure to wind or a current of air so that waste matter is eliminated
when the grain was flailed they winnowed it — Pearl Buck
b. : to treat in a manner resembling this : free of useless, unwanted, or baser components
winnow the immense number of applications — W.H.Hale
the lack of discipline and the failure to winnow her material — Dachine Rainer
3. : to beat with or as if with wings : make a way through by flying
geese winnowing the purple dusk
4. : to blow on : fan
the wind winnowing his thin white hair — Time
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to separate chaff from grain by fanning
b. : to separate the desirable from the undesirable by careful perusing
appointed an editor to winnow through the day's diplomatic dispatches and produce a daily news file — W.M.Healy
2. : to move or pass on a course with or as if with wings
the petrel … came winnowing in from afar on the sea — D.L.Sharp
3. : to blow in gusts
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a device for winnowing
2. : the act of winnowing : a motion resembling that of winnowing