with obj.
1- put (a fine, loose, or powdery substance) through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles筛（微小颗粒、疏松或粉末状物质）, 筛分; 过滤：
sift the flour into a large bowl.
将面粉筛进一个大碗中。
1.1
- figurative examine (something) thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important or useful〈喻〉筛选; 遴选：
until we sift the evidence ourselves, we can't comment objectively
只有等我们筛选出证据后, 我们才能客观加以评论
no obj. the fourth stage involves sifting through the data and evaluating it.第四阶段涉及筛选数据, 并作出评价。
1.2
sift something out
separate something, especially something to be discarded, from something else使分开, 剔除：he asked for streamlined procedures to sift out frivolous applications.
他要求简化程序, 剔除无意义的申请。
1.3
- cause to flow or pass as through a sieve（使）通过筛具般撒下, 落下, 通过：
Miranda sifted the warm sand through her fingers.
米兰达将暖和的沙子从指缝中落下。
1.4
- no obj., with adverbial of direction(of snow, ash, light, or similar) descend or float down lightly or sparsely as if sprinkled from a sieve（雪、灰或光线等）轻轻撒落, 轻轻飘落：
ash began to sift down round them.
灰尘开始在他们周围撒落下来。
usu. in sing.
1- an act of sifting something, especially so as to isolate that which is most important or useful筛, 筛选：
a careful archaeological sift must be made through the debris.
必须对瓦砾进行细致的考古筛选工作。
1.1
- an amount of sifted material筛过的原料：
the floor was dusted with a fine sift of flour.
地板上撒满了筛过的精细面粉。
派生词
sifter
noun词源
Old English siftan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ziften, also to SIEVE.