WINNOWS Meaning and
Definition
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Winnows is a verb that refers to the process of separating grain from chaff or other impurities by using a current of air. In agricultural practices, winnowing is an important step in the harvesting process to obtain clean and usable grain. The tool most commonly associated with winnowing is a winnowing fan, a broad, flat wooden implement used to toss grains into the air. As the grains fall, the lighter parts like chaff or straw are blown away by the wind or air current while the heavier grains fall back to the ground, resulting in the separation of unwanted materials from the valuable grain.
Figuratively, the term winnows can also be used in a broader context to describe the process of separating or sorting through a larger collection or group to identify or extract the most pertinent or valuable elements. This metaphorical usage highlights the idea of refining or carefully selecting specific components from a larger whole.
In a more general sense, winnows can be seen as a metaphor for the process of sifting through information, choices, or possibilities to identify the most desirable or useful ones. It implies a meticulous examination or evaluation to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. The term can be applied to various contexts, including decision-making, problem-solving, or analyzing data, where the objective is to extract the most relevant and important information or options.
Common Misspellings for WINNOWS
Etymology of WINNOWS
The word "winnows" is the plural form of the noun "winnow", which comes from the Old English word "windwian". "Windwian" itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "windwōną", meaning "to winnow or sift". The Proto-Germanic term can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root word "weh₁-", which signifies "to blow". Over time, "winnow" has evolved to refer to the act of separating grain from chaff by exposing it to a current of air, allowing the lighter chaff to be blown away.
Similar spelling words for WINNOWS
Conjugate verb Winnows
CONDITIONAL
I
would winnow
we
would winnow
you
would winnow
he/she/it
would winnow
they
would winnow
FUTURE
I
will winnow
we
will winnow
you
will winnow
he/she/it
will winnow
they
will winnow
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have winnowed
we
will have winnowed
you
will have winnowed
he/she/it
will have winnowed
they
will have winnowed
PAST
I
winnowed
we
winnowed
you
winnowed
he/she/it
winnowed
they
winnowed
PAST PERFECT
I
had winnowed
we
had winnowed
you
had winnowed
he/she/it
had winnowed
they
had winnowed
PRESENT
I
winnow
we
winnow
you
winnow
he/she/it
winnows
they
winnow
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have winnowed
we
have winnowed
you
have winnowed
he/she/it
has winnowed
they
have winnowed
I
am winnowing
we
are winnowing
you
are winnowing
he/she/it
is winnowing
they
are winnowing
I
was winnowing
we
were winnowing
you
were winnowing
he/she/it
was winnowing
they
were winnowing
I
will be winnowing
we
will be winnowing
you
will be winnowing
he/she/it
will be winnowing
they
will be winnowing
I
have been winnowing
we
have been winnowing
you
have been winnowing
he/she/it
has been winnowing
they
have been winnowing
I
had been winnowing
we
had been winnowing
you
had been winnowing
he/she/it
had been winnowing
they
had been winnowing
I
will have been winnowing
we
will have been winnowing
you
will have been winnowing
he/she/it
will have been winnowing
they
will have been winnowing
I
would have winnowed
we
would have winnowed
you
would have winnowed
he/she/it
would have winnowed
they
would have winnowed
I
would be winnowing
we
would be winnowing
you
would be winnowing
he/she/it
would be winnowing
they
would be winnowing
I
would have been winnowing
we
would have been winnowing
you
would have been winnowing
he/she/it
would have been winnowing
they
would have been winnowing
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