✅ To select best 🌾 To separate grain 🌾 A grain separation 💨 To blow gently

to winnow

8.2

To blow lightly through something and make it move slightly

verb
/ˈwɪnoʊ/

: soplar

The gentle breeze began to winnow the leaves off the tree, creating a soft rustling sound.

Examples

Can you winnow the seeds from the chaff?
In autumn, the wind can winnow the fallen leaves, scattering them across the yard.
A gentle breeze began to winnow the tall grass in the field.
Her long hair was winnowed by the wind as she walked along the shore.
The open window allowed the cool air to winnow the curtains softly.
The breeze winnows the leaves gently.
On a windy day, we watched as the dust was winnowed away from the path, revealing the clean ground beneath.

Synonyms

to whisk

vsto winnow

41 3.4

To move someone or something quickly and lightly

has gentler, air driven movement intended to shift and separate slowly

to waft

vsto winnow

28 5.1

To move gently through the air on a light breeze, like a smell or sound

acts by lightly moving to separate things rather than just carrying

to blow through

vsto winnow

20 3.7

Air that moves quickly through a room or open window

is gentler and aims at light movement and separation rather than speed

to gust

vsto winnow

14 3.2

To blow in sudden strong bursts of wind

is light and continuous, causing gentle movement and separation not force

to waft through the air

vsto winnow

1 4.8

Move gently through the air like a smell or sound

moves air to cause physical separation, not just carry scents

to breeze

vsto winnow

1 1.0

To blow gently

blows in a way that moves and separates items

to whiff

vsto winnow

6.9

To move something quickly by a short gust of air

creates a sustained light motion that separates rather than a brief puff

Antonyms

to settle

540 2.8

To become calm and still after movement or excitement

to still

12 4.2

To make quiet or calm

Phrasal Verbs

to winnow down

2 6.5

Make a large list smaller by removing worse choices

to winnow out

1 7.1

Remove people or things from a group because they are not suitable

How Strong

blast

37 3.3

gust

58 2.6

to winnow

8.2

to waft

28 5.1

Surface Forms

winnow infinitive

winnowed past

winnowed past participle

winnowing present participle

winnows third person singular

Etymology

The verb winnow can also mean 'to blow gently through', and this sense comes from the link to wind ('moving air'); a helpful way to remember it is to imagine a soft breeze that moves and lifts things like grass or hair. That's why we say the wind 'winnows' the field when it blows through it.