1. [verb] (transitive) (agriculture) To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
2. [verb] (transitive) (figuratively) To separate, sift, analyze, or test in this manner.
3. [verb] (transitive) (literary) To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
4. [verb] (intransitive) (literary) (dated) To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter.
5. [noun] That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.
6. [noun] The act of separating grain from chaff; 'the winnowing was done by women'.
7. [verb] Separate the chaff from by using air currents; 'She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field'.
8. [verb] Blow on; 'The wind was winnowing her hair'; 'the wind winnowed the grass'.
9. [verb] Select desirable parts from a group or list; 'cull out the interesting letters from the poet's correspondence'; 'winnow the finalists from the long list of applicants'.
10. [verb] Blow away or off with a current of air; 'winnow chaff'.
