sieve

sieve / sieve / sieve

NounTransitive Verb

pl: sieves

This term evokes the image of a porous barrier that allows only specific elements to pass through while trapping others. In a culinary or industrial context, it suggests precision, refinement, and the removal of impurities to achieve a smooth consistency. When applied to a person, the word carries a strong negative connotation of incompetence or failure. Describing someone as having a memory like a sieve implies a total lack of retention, where information leaks out as quickly as it enters, mirroring the physical property of the tool.

Meanings

Nounsieve

A utensil consisting of a mesh or perforated bottom used for separating coarse particles from fine ones or for straining solids from liquids.

"She used a fine sieve to remove lumps from the flour."

Nounsieve

A person or thing that allows information or liquids to escape or leak easily due to a lack of effectiveness.

"My memory is like a sieve; I forget everything immediately."

Transitive Verbsieve

[~ something]

To put a substance through a sieve to separate the smaller particles from the larger ones.

"Sieve the cocoa powder into the mixing bowl."

Last Updated: June 18, 2026•Report an Error