Winnow: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒพ
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winnow

 

[ หˆwษชnoสŠ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

separating grain

Winnow refers to the process of separating the chaff from the grain, typically done after harvesting. It involves using air or a current to remove lighter, unwanted particles, leaving behind the desired product. This term is often used in agricultural contexts, primarily associated with grain processing. In a broader sense, winnowing can also refer to any activity of sifting through information to find valuable insights.

Synonyms

filter, separate, sift

Examples of usage

  • Farmers winnow the harvested wheat to collect clean grain.
  • The team worked to winnow down the data to find the most pertinent information.
  • After harvest, traditional methods were used to winnow the crop.
Context #2 | Verb

selecting options

In a metaphorical sense, winnow can mean to carefully select or choose from a larger set of options. This usage is common in discussions around decision-making processes, where individuals need to sift through various choices to arrive at the best or most relevant ones. This figurative language emphasizes the importance of discernment in choices.

Synonyms

choose, narrow down, refine

Examples of usage

  • It's important to winnow your options before making a final decision.
  • The committee will winnow the proposals to select the best candidates.
  • She winnowed through the suggestions to find the most applicable ones.

Translations

Translations of the word "winnow" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น separar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เคพเคจเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช winnow

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ memisahkan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒั–ัั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ przesiewaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใตใ‚‹ใ„ๅˆ†ใ‘ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท cribler

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ cribar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท elemek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ถ„๋ฆฌํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชู†ู‚ูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tล™รญdit

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ triediลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ญ›้€‰

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ sitati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sรญa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัาฏะทัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฌแƒงแƒ•แƒ”แƒขแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sรผzmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ cribar

Etymology

The word โ€˜winnowโ€™ has its roots in Old English 'windwian', which means 'to fan, to blow'. Its etymological origins can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *windwลnฤ…, which relates to the act of separating grain using the wind. The process of winnowing has been fundamental to agriculture for centuries, particularly in cultures that have relied on grain as a staple food source. Through historical texts, we see the word evolve as various methods of grain processing developed over time, including the use of winnowing forks and machines in modern agricultural practices. The metaphorical use of 'winnow' to describe the act of selecting or filtering information gained traction in the late 20th century, as information became more abundant in the digital age.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,249, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.