to put (e.g. flour) through a sieve to remove lumps or coarse particles
to scatter (something) with a sieve, or as if with a sieve
(often + out) to separate or remove (something) from a mixture using a sieve
to study or investigate (something) thoroughly
(often + through) to study or examine (something) so as to pick out the best or most valuable parts
to move or fall like the fine powder produced by a sieve
sifter noun
[Old English siftan]