What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
threshing
Example
The farmer used a threshing machine to separate the wheat from the chaff. [threshing: noun]
Example
They were threshing the rice by hand, using wooden sticks to beat the grains. [threshing: verb]
winnowing
Example
After threshing the wheat, they used a fan to winnow the grain and remove the chaff. [winnowing: verb]
Example
Winnowing is an important step in the production of cocoa beans, where the outer shell is removed from the nibs. [winnowing: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Threshing and winnowing are both technical terms used primarily in agricultural contexts. However, threshing is more commonly used than winnowing in everyday language.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between threshing and winnowing?
Both threshing and winnowing are technical terms and are typically used in formal or technical contexts.
