winnowing

• Substantiv, das den Vorgang bezeichnet, bei dem Getreide von Spreu und Staub getrennt wird, meist mithilfe von Luftzug oder indem die Mischung gegen den Wind geworfen wird. Im übertragenen Sinn auch die Aussonderung oder Trennung des Guten vom Schlechten.

A noun referring to the process of separating grain from chaff, typically by using a current of air or by tossing the mixture into the wind.

unzählbar

1. Grain separationC1formal

   The process of separating the edible part of grain from the lighter chaff or husks, typically by using wind or a current of air.

   Worfeln

   • Winnowing was traditionally done by tossing the grain into the air.
   • The farmer used a large fan to aid in the winnowing of the wheat.
   • After threshing, the next step is winnowing to remove the chaff.

   Synonymesiftingthreshing

2. Figurative separationC2formal

   The act of separating the valuable or important parts from the worthless or unwanted parts.

   Auswahl

   • The winnowing of the applicants left only the most qualified candidates.
   • The process of winnowing fact from fiction is crucial in journalism.
   • The winnowing of ideas during the brainstorming session helped focus the project.

   Synonymescreeningseparationsiftingsorting

• Verb, das das Trennen oder Entfernen unerwünschter Elemente aus einer Gruppe bezeichnet oder das Trennen von Spreu vom Korn durch Wind.

A verb used to indicate the act of separating or removing unwanted elements from a group, or to blow away chaff from grain.

1. Separate grain from chaffC1formal

   To blow air through grain in order to remove the lighter chaff, typically using wind or a fan.

   Getreide worfeln

   • Farmers used to winnow wheat by tossing it into the air.
   • The machine winnows the grain efficiently.
   • She watched them winnow the barley on a windy day.

   Synonymefansift

2. Blow onC1formal

   To blow air onto something, often to clean or separate it.

   Anblasen

   • The wind winnowed the dust from the pile of leaves.
   • He winnowed the ashes to find the remaining embers.
   • The breeze winnowed the smoke away from the campfire.

   Synonymeblowfanpuffwaft

3. Select or siftC1formal

   To examine a group or list carefully and choose the most useful or valuable parts.

   Auswählen

   • The committee winnowed the applicants down to five finalists.
   • We need to winnow the data to find the relevant information.
   • She winnowed the list of ideas to the most promising ones.

   Synonymecullextractfilterscreenselectseparatesiftsort

   Antonymeamalgamatecombinemergemixpoolunite

4. Blow away or offC1formal

   To remove or disperse something using a current of air.

   Wegblasen

   • The strong wind winnowed the leaves from the trees.
   • He winnowed the dust off the old book with a gentle breath.
   • The fan winnowed the papers across the room.

   Synonymedispersefanscatterwaft

Phrasal-Variantenwinnow out