Sift refers to the process of carefully separating or examining something, often to isolate finer or more important elements. It can be used both in a literal and figurative sense, depending on the context.
Literal Meaning:
- To sift usually means to pass a substance, like flour, through a sieve or strainer to remove larger particles and break up any lumps. It helps make the texture finer.
- Example: “She sifted the flour to remove any lumps before baking the cake.”
Figurative Meaning:
- To sift through means to examine something carefully and thoroughly, especially when trying to find important or useful information.
- Example: “He sifted through the documents to find the crucial evidence for the case.”
Common Phrases:
- Sift through – To go through something methodically in search of something.
- Example: “They had to sift through hundreds of emails to find the right one.”
- Sift out – To separate or remove something unwanted.
- Example: “The editor sifted out the irrelevant details from the article.”
Synonyms:
- Filter
- Sort
- Separate
- Screen
In summary, sift can mean physically separating fine from coarse particles, or it can describe carefully examining and sorting through information or materials.
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