Winnow — Win now (w[i^]n n[ o]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Winnowed} (w[i^]n n[ o]d); 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
winnow — [win′ō] vt. [ME winewen < OE windwian, to winnow < wind, WIND2] 1. a) to blow the chaff from (grain) by wind or a forced current of air b) to blow off (chaff) in this manner 2. to blow away; scatter 3. to anal … English World dictionary
winnow down — ˌwinnow ˈdown [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they winnow down he/she/it winnows down present participle winnowing down past tense … Useful english dictionary
Winnow — Win now, v. i. To separate chaff from grain. [1913 Webster] Winnow not with every wind. Ecclus. v. 9. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
winnow — (v.) O.E. windwian, from wind air in motion, paring down, see WIND (Cf. wind) (n.1). Cognate with O.N. vinza, O.H.G. winton to fan, winnow, Goth. diswinþjan to throw (grain) apart, L. vannus winnowing fan … Etymology dictionary
winnow — index cull, distinguish, screen (select), select, separate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
winnow — ► VERB 1) blow air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff. 2) remove (chaff) from grain. 3) reduce the number in a set of (people or things) gradually until only the best ones are left. ORIGIN Old English, related to WIND(Cf. ↑windless) … English terms dictionary
winnow somebody out (of something) — ˌwinnow sb/sth ˈout (of sth) derived (formal) to remove people or things from a group so that only the best ones are left Syn: sift out Main entry: ↑winnowderived … Useful english dictionary
winnow something out (of something) — ˌwinnow sb/sth ˈout (of sth) derived (formal) to remove people or things from a group so that only the best ones are left Syn: sift out Main entry: ↑winnowderived … Useful english dictionary
winnow — win|now [ˈwınəu US nou] v also winnow down [: Old English; Origin: windwian] [T] to make a list, group, or quantity smaller by getting rid of the things that you do not need or want = ↑whittle down ▪ We need to winnow the list of candidates to… … Dictionary of contemporary English
winnow — UK [ˈwɪnəʊ] / US [ˈwɪnoʊ] verb [transitive] Word forms winnow : present tense I/you/we/they winnow he/she/it winnows present participle winnowing past tense winnowed past participle winnowed to remove the outer cover from grain Phrasal verbs:… … English dictionary
