Winnowing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐พ
winnowing
[หwษชnษสษชล ]
Definitions
agriculture
The process of separating the chaff from the grain by means of a current of air.
Synonyms
filtering, separating, sorting.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| winnowing |
This word is often used in agricultural contexts, specifically referring to the process of removing chaff from grain. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the process of getting rid of unwanted elements to focus on what is valuable.
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| separating |
Separating can be used in a wide range of contexts to describe dividing or distinguishing different parts or elements. It is a general term and can apply to both tangible and intangible things.
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| sorting |
Sorting is usually used in contexts where items are arranged or organized according to a particular criterion. It is common in logistics, data management, and everyday activities.
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| filtering |
Filtering is typically used in technical or everyday contexts to describe the process of removing impurities or unwanted parts from a substance or information. It can be used in both literal and figurative senses.
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Examples of usage
- Winnowing is an important step in the harvest process.
- The winnowing machine helped to automate the separation of chaff and grain.
- Farmers used to winnow by hand, but now they use machines for efficiency.
figurative
To separate the valuable or useful from the worthless or undesirable.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| winnowing |
This term is often used in agriculture when referring to the process of separating grain from chaff or unwanted materials. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of removing the less important or worthless parts from a larger group.
|
| filter |
This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Literally, it refers to the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance, like water or air. Metaphorically, it can mean separating useful information from irrelevant data.
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| sift |
Often used in cooking to describe the process of passing dry ingredients like flour through a sieve to remove lumps or impurities. It also has metaphorical use, meaning to examine something carefully in order to find what is most important or valuable.
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| sort |
This term is generally used to describe the act of arranging items systematically in groups based on shared characteristics or criteria. It can be used with both physical objects and data.
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Examples of usage
- She spent hours winnowing through the documents to find the important information.
- The detective had to winnow through the evidence to solve the case.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Historical Significance
- Winnowing is one of the oldest agricultural practices, dating back over 10,000 years to the dawn of farming.
- In ancient cultures, such as Egyptian and Mesopotamian, winnowing was essential for food production and was often depicted in artwork.
Cultural Practices
- Many traditional societies use winnowing as a communal activity, where families gather to help separate grain, fostering a sense of community.
- Different regions have unique winnowing tools, such as the 'winnowing fan' used in Asian cultures.
Modern Context
- Today, mechanized winnowing machines have largely replaced hand winnowing in many agricultural industries, improving efficiency.
- Winnowing is also a metaphor in education and technology, referring to the process of filtering out noise to find valuable insights in data.
Literature & Metaphor
- The term has been used metaphorically in literature to describe the process of sorting through complexities in life or ideas.
- In philosophical texts, it symbolizes the need to distinguish valuable thoughts from distractions.
Origin of 'winnowing'
Main points about word origin
- The term comes from the Old English word 'windwian,' which means 'to separate by winnowing.'
- It is related to the Proto-Germanic word 'windwลnฤ ,' highlighting the importance of wind in the process.
The word 'winnowing' has its origins in Old English, where 'windwian' meant to fan or blow. The process of winnowing has been used for centuries in agriculture to separate grain from chaff, allowing for the collection of the valuable grain. Over time, the term has also been used metaphorically to describe the act of separating the important from the unimportant in a broader sense.