To diffuse by osmosis.
To cause to diffuse by osmosis.
To sieve or strain (something).
To separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving.
[+object] (archaic or old-fashioned) To scrutinise (someone or something) carefully so as to find the truth.
[+ through (object)] To carefully go through a set of objects, or a collection of information, in order to find something.