sieve in WordNet English dictionary

1. a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles
   sieve  screen 
   

1. examine in order to test suitability
   "screen these samples"; "screen the job applicants"
   screen  screen out  sieve  sort 
   
2. distinguish and separate out
   "sift through the job candidates"
   sieve  sift 
   
3. separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements
   "sift the flour"
   sift  sieve  strain 
   
4. check and sort carefully
   "sift the information"
   sieve  sift