winnow
WIN-oh
/ˈwɪn.oʊ/
To blow air through grain in order to separate the chaff from the edible seed; to analyze a group and remove undesirable elements.
Metaphorically, it means to narrow down a large list or group to only the highest-quality items.
The story behind the word. From Old English 'windwian', meaning 'to expose to the wind.' This beautifully simple term describes using the natural breeze to blow away the light, papery husks (chaff) while the heavy, valuable grain falls straight back to the earth.
Word relationships
- sift: 'Sift' involves passing material through a physical screen, whereas 'winnow' historically relies on airflow to separate materials by weight.
- filter: 'Filter' is a general term for removing impurities, while 'winnow' specifically implies separating the valuable from the worthless.
- combine: 'Combine' means to bring different elements together, whereas 'winnow' is a process of separation and elimination.
Commonly confused with
- minnow: 'Minnow' is a very small freshwater fish, while 'winnow' is the act of separating grain or sorting.
Word family
- winnowing (noun): The act of separating grain using wind.
- winnower (noun): A device or person that winnows.
Collocations
- winnow down
- winnow the chaff
- winnow candidates
Example sentences
- "Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away." A biblical passage describing divine judgment. (The King James Bible, Isaiah 41:16)
- "The admissions committee had to winnow hundreds of applications down to a shortlist of ten." Describing a modern business process.
Memory hook
The word 'winnow' starts with 'win' and contains 'wind'. You use the 'wind' to find the 'winning' grains. Wind blows the bad away.
When not to use
Do not use when simply sorting items by category; 'winnow' implies discarding the useless or inferior parts.
Fun facts
- Before mechanical winnowers, farmers would wait for a windy day and toss grain into the air using a shallow basket called a 'winnowing fan'.
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