van S2 W3 /væn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: caravan ]
1 . a vehicle used especially for carrying goods, which is smaller than a ↑ truck and has a roof and usually no windows at the sides:
a delivery van
a van driver
2 . American English a large box-like car that can carry a lot of people
3 . especially British English a railway carriage with a roof and sides, used especially for carrying goods:
a luggage van
4 . be in the van (of something) to be one of the people who are in front or who are leading a change:
She was in the van of the feminist movement.