sift Pronunciation: ⁄ sɪft ⁄ verb [with object] · 1 put (a fine or loose substance) through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles: sift the flour into a large bowl · cause to flow or pass as through a sieve: Miranda sifted the warm sand through her fingers · [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of snow, ash, etc.) descend lightly or sparsely as if sprinkled from a sieve: ash began to sift down round them · 2 examine (something) thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important: until we sift the evidence ourselves, we can’t comment objectively[no object]:the fourth stage involves sifting through the data and evaluating it · ( sift something out ) separate something, especially something to be discarded, from something else: he asked for streamlined procedures to sift out frivolous applications noun [usually in singular] · an act of sifting something, especially so as to isola
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