The action of the verb, in various senses.

The action of sifting or separating something with a riddle. Also figurative.

Sifting; also figurative.

The action or process of sifting or separating out using a large sieve or other filter; an instance of this.

The action or process of garbling (in various senses). Obsolete.

The act of sifting (in quot. figurative); the fact of falling as from a sieve.

The action of rice, v. 2.