What is the meaning of sift?

verb

• Move as if through a sieve.
  • usage: "The soldiers sifted through the woods"
• Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements.
  • usage: "sift the flour"
  • synonyms: sieve, strain
• Check and sort carefully.
  • usage: "sift the information"
  • synonyms: sieve
• Distinguish and separate out.
  • usage: "sift through the job candidates"
  • synonyms: sieve