winnowing : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: winnowing	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for winnowing
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
winnowing n the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was done by women" Synonym(s): winnow, winnowing, sifting
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Winnew \Win"new\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Winnowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Winnowing}.] [OE. windewen, winewen, AS. windwian; akin to Goth. winpjan (in comp.), winpi-skauro a fan, L. ventilare to fan, to winnow; cf. L. wannus a fan for winnowing, G. wanne, OHG. wanna. [?][?][?][?]. See {Wind} moving air, and cf. {Fan}., n., {Ventilate}.] 1. To separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain. Ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. --Ruth. iii. 2. 2. To sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth; to separate, as had from good. Winnow well this thought, and you shall find This light as chaff that flies before the wind. --Dryden. 3. To beat with wings, or as with wings.[Poetic] Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air. --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Winnowing \Win"now*ing\, n. The act of one who, or that which, winnows.