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fan - What does it mean?

Definition of 'fan'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A hand-held device consisting of concertinaed material, or slats of material, gathered together at one end, that may be opened out into the shape of a sector of a circle and waved back and forth in order to move air towards oneself and cool oneself.
  • An electrical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.
  • Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail.
  • An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.
  • * :
    • The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan .
  • * :
    • Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
  • A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind.
    • Derived terms
    * ceiling fan * cooling fan * desk fan * exhaust fan (rel-mid3) * extractor fan * fan belt * fan dance * fan death (rel-mid3) * hit the fan * pedestal fan * wall fan (rel-bottom)

    Verb

    (fann)
  • To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.
    • We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind. .
  • * 1865 , (Lewis Carroll), (w, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
    • Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very hot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking.
  • To slap (a behind, especially).
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 148:
  • *
  • To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.
    • Derived terms
    * fanner

    Etymology 2

    Shortened from (fanatic).

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • An admirer or aficionado, especially of a sport or performer; someone who is fond of something or someone; an admirer.
    • I am a big fan of libraries.

    See also

    * fanne

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    Similar to 'fan'

    fawn, fun, fin, fen, fain, faun, foon, fon, foin, fn, feen, faan