[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

winnow \win"now\ wi^n"n-o, v. t. imp.  p. p. winnowed
   wi^n"n-od; 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. root131.
   see wind moving air, and cf. fan., n., ventilate.
   1913 webster
   1. to separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of
      wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain.
      1913 webster

            ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor.
                                                  --ruth. iii.
                                                  2.
      1913 webster

   2. to sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from
      truth; to separate, as bad from good.
      1913 webster

            winnow well this thought, and you shall find
            this light as chaff that flies before the wind.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   3. to beat with wings, or as with wings.poetic
      1913 webster

            now on the polar winds; then with quick fan
            winnows the buxom air.                --milton.
      1913 webster
see also:
winnowed winnowing wind fan ventilate 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

winnowing \win"nowing\, n.
   the act of one who, or that which, winnows.
   1913 webster

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

winnowing
     n : the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was
         done by women" syn: winnow, sifting
see also:
winnow sifting 

Winnowing >> W Words
Winnowing, definition of term: Winnowing
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