Definitions

1. verb

to separate the chaff from the grain, or to sift or separate something from something else.

“She spent the day winnowing wheat, removing the chaff to reveal the clean grain.”

2. verb

to sift or separate something, especially ideas or thoughts.

“He spent the evening winnowing his options, trying to decide on a career path.”

3. noun

the act of winnowing grain or separating something from something else.

“The winnowing was done by hand, a laborious process.”

4. noun

a device for winnowing grain, especially one that uses air to separate the grain from the chaff.

“The farmer used a winnow to separate the grain from the chaff.”