verb
winnow
Winnow (verb) means to blow air through loose material such as grain so the heavier and lighter parts separate.
verb
1
To blow air through loose material such as grain so the heavier and lighter parts separate.
2
To sort carefully through a group of things, keeping the good and removing the rest.
"They winnowed the losers from the winners."
"They winnowed the field to twelve."
"They winnowed the winners from the losers."
3
To move something by blowing on it, as if fanning it with wings.
4
To flap about, the way wings do.
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Etymology
Comes from Middle English wyndwen, from Old English windwian (“to winnow, fan, ventilate”), from Proto-West Germanic *windwōn, from Proto-Germanic *windwōną, *winþijaną (“to throw about, winnow”), from Proto-Indo-European *wē- (“to winnow, thresh”). It is cognate with West Frisian wynje (“to winnow”), dialectal Dutch winden, winnen (“to winnow”), Middle High German winden (“to winnow”), Icelandic vinsa (“to pick out, weed”), and Latin vannus (“a winnowing basket”). See fan, van.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for winnow
See all rhymes for winnow →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of winnow?
"winnow" (verb) means to blow air through loose material such as grain so the heavier and lighter parts separate.
What is another word for winnow?
Other words for "winnow" include fan.
What is the opposite of winnow?
Opposites of "winnow" include intermix, amalgamate.
What are the different meanings of winnow?
"winnow" has 3 main meanings: 1. To blow air through loose material such as grain so the heavier and lighter parts separate; 2. To sort carefully through a group of things, keeping the good and removing the rest; 3. To move something by blowing on it, as if fanning it with wings.
