SAT Word of the Day: winnow
March 5, 2009 by Adam
Filed under All Posts, SAT Word of the Day
winnow (v.)
From Dictionary.com:
1. to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., esp. by throwing it into the air and allowing the wind or a forced current of air to blow away impurities.
2. to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.
3. to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift: to winnow a mass of statements.
4. to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes fol. by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.
In a sentence:
“The difficult spelling bee words quickly winnowed the field of contestants.”
