verb (v)

• move as if through a sieve(verb.motion)

  Example:
  The soldiers sifted through the woods.
  

  source: wordnet30
• separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements(verb.contact)

  Example:
  Sift the flour.
  

  Synonym:
  sieve, strain
  

  source: wordnet30
• check and sort carefully(verb.contact)

  Example:
  Sift the information.
  

  Synonym:
  sieve
  

  source: wordnet30
• distinguish and separate out(verb.cognition)

  Example:
  Sift through the job candidates.
  

  source: wordnet30
• 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.(verb)

  source: webster1913