Link Centre Dictionary

fan

UK/fan/ US/fæn/ common
noun (3) verb (4)

noun

1.

a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces

2.

an enthusiastic devotee of sports

Synonyms
3.

verb

1.

strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)

2.

make (an emotion) fiercer

  • “fan hatred”
3.

agitate the air

4.

separate from chaff

  • “She stood there winnowing grain all day in the field”
Synonyms

Origin

Inherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”). Cognates * Latin ventus (“wind”) * Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”) * German Wanne (“winnowing basket”) * Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”) * Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”). More at winnow.

Phrases

  • choker fan
  • fan belt
  • fan blade
  • fan camera
  • fan car
  • fan coral
  • fan dance
  • fan out
  • fan the fire
  • fan the flame
  • fan the flames
  • fan-assisted oven

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.