sift

verb

1. move as if through a sieve

   verb.motion

   Examples

   The soldiers sifted through the woods.

   Source: WordNet 3.0

2. separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements

   verb.contact

   Examples

   Sift the flour.

   Synonyms sieve strain

   Source: WordNet 3.0

3. check and sort carefully

   verb.contact

   Examples

   Sift the information.

   Synonyms sieve

   Source: WordNet 3.0

4. distinguish and separate out

   verb.cognition

   Examples

   Sift through the job candidates.

   Source: WordNet 3.0

5. To separate with a sieve, as the fine part of a substance from the coarse; as, to <i>sift</i> meal or flour; to <i>sift</i> powder; to <i>sift</i> sand or lime.

   verb

   Source: webster1913