sift vs select

sift is not an adjective while select is an adjective.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
sift	No	No	Yes	No
select	No	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, select is a hypernym of sift; that is, select is a word with a broader meaning than sift:

Other hypernyms of sift include choose, pick out, take.

sift (adjective)	select (adjective)
	selected or chosen for special qualifications
	of superior grade

sift (verb)	select (verb)
distinguish and separate out	pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements
check and sort carefully
move as if through a sieve