vt. 簸, 扬(谷), 吹掉, 把挑出来, 精选

vi. 扬谷, 分出好坏, 飞翔

n. 扬谷, 扬谷器

Winnow \Win"now\, v. i.
To separate chaff from grain.

Winnow not with every wind. --Ecclus. v.
9.


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 for winnowing, G. wanne, OHG. wanna. [root]131.
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 bad 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.