FAN


Meaning of FAN in English

I. ˈfan noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus — more at winnow

Date: before 12th century

1. : any of various devices for winnowing grain

2. : an instrument for producing a current of air: as

a. : a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usually shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use

b. : a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor

c. slang : an airplane propeller

3.

a. : something resembling an open fan

b. : a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus ; especially : alluvial fan

• fan·like -ˌlīk adjective

II. verb

( fanned ; fan·ning )

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb

1.

a. : to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air

b. : to eliminate (as chaff) by winnowing

2. : to move or impel (air) with a fan

3. : to blow or breathe upon

the breeze fanning her hair

4.

a. : to direct a current of air upon with a fan

b. : to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate

fanning the fires of nationalism

5. archaic : wave

6. slang : spank

7. : to spread like a fan

the peacock fanned his tail

8. : to strike (a batter) out in baseball

9. : to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free hand

intransitive verb

1. : to move like a fan : flutter

2. : to spread like a fan — often used with out

the searchers fanned out

3. : strike out 3

• fan·ner ˈfa-nər noun

III. noun

Etymology: probably short for fanatic

Date: 1682

1. : an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator

2. : an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)

science-fiction fan s

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.