sieve / siv/ • n. a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp. ∎  used figuratively with reference to the fact that a sieve does not hold all its contents: she's forgotten all the details already—she's got a mind like a sieve. • v. [tr.] put (a food substance or other material) through a sieve. ∎  [intr.] (sieve through) fig. examine in detail: lawyers had sieved through her contract.DERIVATIVES: sieve·like / -ˌlīk/ adj.

sieve A circular-framed container with a meshed base. The mesh size is accurately machined and the sieve will permit the passage only of particles finer than the mesh size.

sieve sb. OE. sife = MLG., MDu. seve (Du. zeef), OHG. sib, sip (G. sieb) :- WGmc. *sibi.