sieve

Noun

• a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles

Verb

• distinguish and separate out
  • sift through the job candidates
    

• separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements
  • sift the flour
    

• check and sort carefully
  • sift the information
    

• examine in order to test suitability
  • screen these samples
    
  • screen the job applicants
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  screen , sift , strain , screen out , sort