sift

UK: /ˈsɪft/ US: /sɪft/ ,(sift)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sift /sɪft/   v. [~ + object]

1. to separate and keep the larger or thicker parts or pieces of (flour, etc.) with a sieve:
   to sift the flour.
2. to scatter with a sieve:
   to sift sugar onto a cake.
3. to examine closely, as by separating and looking at each part carefully:
   [~ (+ through) + object] The detectives are sifting (through) the evidence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sift  (sift), v.t. 

1. to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
2. to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve:
   to sift sugar onto cake.
3. to separate by or as if by a sieve.
4. to examine closely:
   The detectives are still sifting the evidence.
5. to question closely.

v.i. 

6. to sift something.
7. to pass or fall through or as if through a sieve.

• bef. 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve

Synonyms

• 4. sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sift / sɪft/ verb

1. (transitive) to sieve (sand, flour, etc) in order to remove the coarser particles
2. to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve
3. (transitive) to separate with or as if with a sieve; distinguish between
4. (transitive) to examine minutely: to sift evidence
5. (intransitive) to move as if through a sieve

Etymology: Old English siftan; related to Middle Low German siften to sift, Dutch ziften; see sieve

ˈsifter noun