Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sieve \Sieve\, n. [OE. sive, AS. sife; akin to D. zeef, zift,
   OHG. sib, G. sieb. [root]151a. Cf. {Sift}.]
   1. A utensil for separating the finer and coarser parts of a
      pulverized or granulated substance from each other. It
      consist of a vessel, usually shallow, with the bottom
      perforated, or made of hair, wire, or the like, woven in
      meshes. ``In a sieve thrown and sifted.'' --Chaucer.

   2. A kind of coarse basket. --Simmonds.

   {Sieve cells} (Bot.), cribriform cells. See under
      {Cribriform}.

Source : WordNet®

sieve
     n : a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or
         grading particles [syn: {screen}]

sieve
     v 1: examine in order to test suitability; "screen these
          samples"; "screen the job applicants" [syn: {screen}, {screen
          out}, {sort}]
     2: check and sort carefully; "sift the information" [syn: {sift}]
     3: separate by passing through a sieve or other straining
        device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour"
        [syn: {sift}, {strain}]
     4: distinguish and separate out; "sift through the job
        candidates" [syn: {sift}]