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14 dictionary results for: Fan

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fan1

[fan] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, fanned, fan·ning.

–noun

1.	any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.

2.	an implement of feathers, leaves, paper, cloth, etc., often in the shape of a long triangle or of a semicircle, for waving lightly in the hand to create a cooling current of air about a person: We sat on the veranda, cooling ourselves with palm-leaf fans.

3.	anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird.

4.	any of various devices consisting essentially of a series of radiating vanes or blades attached to and revolving with a central hublike portion to produce a current of air: ceiling fan; wall fan.

5.	a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.

6.	Horology. fly¹ (def. 28).

7.	a semicircular decoration of bunting.

8.	Physical Geography. an alluvial fan.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to move or agitate (the air) with or as if with a fan.

10.	to cause air to blow upon, as from a fan; cool or refresh with or as if with a fan: He fanned his face with a newspaper.

11.	to stir to activity with or as if with a fan: to fan a flame; to fan emotions.

12.	(of a breeze, current of air, etc.) to blow upon, as if driven by a fan: A cool breeze fanned the shore.

13.	to spread out like a fan: The dealer fanned the cards.

14.	Informal. to move (oneself) quickly: You'll fan your tail out of here if you know what's good for you.

15.	Agriculture. to winnow, esp. by an artificial current of air.

16.	Baseball. (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).

17.	Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to punish by spanking; spank: Your mother will fan you good if you break that dish.

–verb (used without object)

18.	to strike, swing, or brush lightly at something.

19.	Western U.S. (chiefly cowboy use). to slap the flanks of (a horse or other animal) repeatedly with a hat to get it to move or move faster.

20.	to spread out like a fan (often fol. by out): The forest fire fanned out in all directions.

21.	Baseball. (of a batter) to strike out, usually by swinging at and missing the pitch charged as the third strike.

—Idiom

22.	hit the fan, Slang. to become suddenly more awkward, embarrassing, or troublesome: When news of the incident was leaked to the press, everything hit the fan at once.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME, OE fann < L vannus winnowing basket

]

—Related forms

fanlike, adjective

fanner, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fan2

[fan] Pronunciation Key

–noun

an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.

[Origin: 1885–90, Americanism; short for fanatic

]

—Synonyms supporter, enthusiast, partisan, booster, addict.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Fan

[fan, fahn] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural Fans, (especially collectively

) Fan.

Fang.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

fan¹ (fān) Pronunciation Key
n.

A device for creating a current of air or a breeze, especially:
1. A machine using an electric motor to rotate thin, rigid vanes in order to move air, as for cooling.
2. A collapsible, usually wedge-shaped device made of a light material such as silk, paper, or plastic.
A machine for winnowing.
Something resembling an open fan in shape: a peacock's fan.

v. fanned, fan·ning, fans

v. tr.

To move or cause a current of (air) with or as if with a fan.
To direct a current of air or a breeze upon, especially in order to cool: fan one's face.
To stir (something) up by or as if by fanning: fanned the flames in the fireplace; a troublemaker who fanned resentment among the staff.
To open (something) out into the shape of a fan: The bird fanned its colorful tail.
1. To fire (an automatic gun) in a continuous sweep by keeping one's finger on the trigger.
2. To fire (a nonautomatic gun) rapidly by chopping the hammer with the palm.
To winnow.
Baseball To strike out (a batter).

v. intr.

To spread out like a fan: The troops fanned out from the beachhead.
Baseball To strike out.

[Middle English, winnowing fan, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus; see wet-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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fan² (fān) Pronunciation Key
n. An ardent devotee; an enthusiast.

[Short for fanatic.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fan (1)

O.E. (W. Saxon) fann "a basket or shovel for winnowing grain" (by tossing it in the air), from L. vannus, related to ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). The chaff, being lighter, would blow off. Sense of "device for moving air" first recorded 1390; the hand-held version is first attested 1555. To fan out "spread out like a hand-held fan," is from 1592. A fan-light (1819) originally was shaped like a lady's fan.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fan (2)

1889, Amer.Eng., originally of baseball enthusiasts, probably a shortening of fanatic, but may be influenced by the Fancy (1807), a collective term for followers of a certain hobby or sport (especially boxing). There is an isolated use from 1682, but the modern word is likely a new formation.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

fan
noun
1.	a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
2.	an enthusiastic devotee of sports [syn: sports fan]
3.	an ardent follower and admirer
verb
1.	strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
2.	make (an emotion) fiercer; "fan hatred"
3.	agitate the air
4.	separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field" [syn: winnow]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

fan

In addition to the idiom beginning with fan, also see shit will hit the fan.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Jargon File - Cite This Source - Share This

fan

n. Without qualification, indicates a fan of science fiction, especially one who goes to cons and tends to hang out with other fans. Many hackers are fans, so this term has been imported from fannish slang; however, unlike much fannish slang it is recognized by most non-fannish hackers. Among SF fans the plural is correctly `fen', but this usage is not automatic to hackers. "Laura reads the stuff occasionally but isn't really a fan."

Jargon File 4.2.0

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fan

Fan\, n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. Van a winnowing machine, Winnow.]

1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as: (a) An instrument for cooling the person, made of feathers, paper, silk, etc., and often mounted on sticks all turning about the same pivot, so as when opened to radiate from the center and assume the figure of a section of a circle. (b) (Mach.) Any revolving vane or vanes used for producing currents of air, in winnowing grain, blowing a fire, ventilation, etc., or for checking rapid motion by the resistance of the air; a fan blower; a fan wheel. (c) An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away. (d) Something in the form of a fan when spread, as a peacock's tail, a window, etc. (e) A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind.

Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. --Is. xxx. 24.

2. That which produces effects analogous to those of a fan, as in exciting a flame, etc.; that which inflames, heightens, or strengthens; as, it served as a fan to the flame of his passion.

3. A quintain; -- from its form. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Fan blower, a wheel with vanes fixed on a rotating shaft inclosed in a case or chamber, to create a blast of air (fan blast) for forge purposes, or a current for draft and ventilation; a fanner.

Fan cricket (Zo["o]l.), a mole cricket.

Fan light (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are set in the circular heads of arched doorways.

Fan shell (Zo["o]l.), any shell of the family Pectinid[ae]. See Scallop, n., 1.

Fan tracery (Arch.), the decorative tracery on the surface of fan vaulting.

Fan vaulting (Arch.), an elaborate system of vaulting, in which the ribs diverge somewhat like the rays of a fan, as in Henry VII.'s chapel in Westminster Abbey. It is peculiar to English Gothic.

Fan wheel, the wheel of a fan blower.

Fan window. Same as Fan light (above).

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fan

Fan\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Fanning.] [Cf. OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine.]

1. To move as with a fan.

The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes. --Milton.

2. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face of with a fan.

3. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion.

Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves. --Dryden.

4. To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat. --Jer. li. 2.

5. To excite or stir up to activity, as a fan axcites a flame; to stimulate; as, this conduct fanned the excitement of the populace.

Fanning machine, or Fanning mill, a machine for separating seed from chaff, etc., by a blast of air; a fanner.

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Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fan

a winnowing shovel by which grain was thrown up against the wind that it might be cleansed from broken straw and chaff (Isa. 30:24; Jer. 15:7; Matt. 3:12). (See AGRICULTURE.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

FAN