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Select vs Winnow - What's the difference?

select | winnow |

As verbs the difference between select and winnow

is that select is to choose one or more elements of a set, especially a set of options while winnow is to subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.

As nouns the difference between select and winnow

is that select is a button (of a joystick, joypad or similar device) that, when pressed, activates any of certain predefined functions that usually, but not always, involve selecting something out of a list of items while winnow is that which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.

As an adjective select

is privileged, specially selected.

select

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Privileged, specially selected.
  • :
  • * (1800-1859)
  • *:A few select spirits had separated from the crowd, and formed a fit audience round a far greater teacher.
  • *
  • *:At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
  • Of high quality; top-notch.
  • :
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To choose one or more elements of a set, especially a set of options.
  • He looked over the menu, and selected the roast beef.
    The program computes all the students' grades, then selects a random sample for human verification.

    Synonyms

    * (to choose) choose, opt

    Anagrams

    *

    winnow

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (agriculture) To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.
  • *
  • (figuratively) To separate, sift, analyze, or test in this manner.
  • They winnowed the field to twelve.
    They winnowed the winners from the losers.
    They winnowed the losers from the winners.
  • (literary) To blow upon or toss about by blowing; to set in motion as with a fan or wings.
  • * 1872 Elliott Coues, Key to North American Birds
  • Gulls average much larger than terns, with stouter build; the feet are larger and more ambulatorial, the wings are shorter and not so thin; the birds winnow the air in a steady course unlike the buoyant dashing flight of their relatives.
  • (intransitive, literary, dated) To move about with a flapping motion, as of wings; to flutter.
  • Usage notes

    * Used with adverb or preposition "down"; see also winnow down. * Used with adverbs or prepositions "through", "away", and "out".

    Derived terms

    * winnow down * winnower * winnowing basket * winnowing fan * winnowing machine * winnow sheet * winnow grain from chaff * winnow the wheat from the chaff

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which winnows or which is used in winnowing; a contrivance for fanning or winnowing grain.
  • References

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