In general, a sieve separates wanted/desired/needed elements from unwanted material using a tool such as a mesh, net or other filtration or distillation methods, but it is also used for classification of powders by particle size, or for size measurement as an analytical technique. The word "sift" derives from this term. A strainer is a type of sieve typically associated with separating liquids from solids.
Sieving is a simple and convenient method of separating particles of different sizes. A small sieve is used for sieving flour for various purposes at our homes. Such a sieve has very small holes which allow only very fine flour particles to pass through them. The coarse particles are retained in the sieve and are thus, separated. Depending upon the types of particles to be separated, sieves of diifferent types of holes are used. Separating tea leaves from tea is not considered as sieving.
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