Nearby Words
noun
1.
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.
EXPANDa series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.
6.
Horology. fly1 (def. 28).
7.
a semicircular decoration of bunting.
8.
COLLAPSEPhysical 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.
EXPANDto 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, especially by an artificial current of air.
16.
Baseball. (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).
17.
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Fanlike
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
verb (used without object)
Idiom18.
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 followed 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.
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:
before 900; Middle English, Old English fann < Latin vannus winnowing basket
before 900; Middle English, Old English fann < Latin vannus winnowing basket
Related forms
fan·like, adjective
fan·ner, noun
un·fanned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To fanlike
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
fan
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
fan definition
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Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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