Pronunciation: /sɪv/

Definitions of sieve

noun a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp.

Example Sentences

A1 I use a sieve to separate the flour from the lumps.

A2 The chef used a sieve to strain the pasta from the water.

B1 She placed the vegetables in a sieve to wash off the dirt.

B2 The baker sifted the flour through a sieve to remove any impurities.

C1 The scientist used a sieve to filter out the larger particles from the solution.

C2 The archaeologist carefully sifted through the soil using a sieve to find any artifacts.

verb to put (a food substance or other material) through a sieve.

Example Sentences

A1 I sieve the flour before mixing it with the other ingredients.

A2 She sieves the sand to remove any impurities before using it for construction.

B1 The chef sieves the sauce to ensure it is smooth and free of lumps.

B2 Before adding the dry ingredients, it is important to sieve them to prevent clumping.

C1 The geologist sieved the soil samples to separate the different particle sizes for analysis.

C2 In order to obtain accurate results, scientists must sieve the data to remove any outliers or errors.

Examples of sieve in a Sentence

formal The baker used a sieve to sift the flour before mixing it with other ingredients.

informal Can you pass me that sieve so I can strain the pasta?

slang I need to sieve out the lumps in this gravy before serving it.

figurative She had to sieve through all the resumes to find the perfect candidate for the job.

Grammatical Forms of sieve

past tense

sieved

plural

sieves

comparative

more sieve

superlative

most sieve

present tense

sieves

future tense

will sieve

perfect tense

have sieved

continuous tense

is sieving

singular

sieve

positive degree

sieve

infinitive

to sieve

gerund

sieving

participle

sieved

Origin and Evolution of sieve

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'sieve' originated from the Old English word 'sife' or 'sieve', which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'sibi' meaning 'sieve'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'sieve' has retained its basic meaning of a device used for separating wanted elements from unwanted material through a mesh or perforated surface. However, its usage has expanded to include metaphorical meanings such as filtering information or ideas.