Sift /(?)/

Sift

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting

  1. To separate with a sieve, as the fine part of a substance from the coarse; as, to sift meal or flour; to sift powder; to sift sand or lime.
  2. To separate or part as if with a sieve.
    When yellow sands are sifted from below, The glittering billows give a golden show.
  3. To examine critically or minutely; to scrutinize.
    Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable.
    Opportunity I here have had To try thee, sift thee.
    Let him but narrowly sift his ideas.

Phrases & Compounds
To sift out
to search out with care, as if by sifting.