Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - sieve

n. & v. --n. a utensil having a perforated or meshed bottom for separating solids or coarse material from liquids or fine particles, or for reducing a soft solid to a fine pulp. --v.tr. 1 put through or sift with a sieve. 2 examine (evidence etc.) to select or separate. Phrases and idioms head like a sieve colloq. a memory that retains little. Derivatives sievelike adj. Etymology: OE sife f. WG