1. a person or machine that separates grain from chaff by blowing air through it
Usage: agricultural
2. a person who separates or sorts through things to remove unwanted elements
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The farmer used an old winnower to separate the wheat from the chaff.
• Modern winnowers can process hundreds of bushels per hour.
• She worked as a winnower at the grain processing facility.
• The winnower removed all the debris from the harvested rice.
• As a winnower of talent, the coach selected only the best players.
• The editor served as a winnower, choosing the finest stories for publication.