Nearby Words

fans

[fan] Origin

fan

1[fan] 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.
EXPAND
6.
Horology. fly1 (def. 28).
7.
a semicircular decoration of bunting.
8.
Physical Geography. an alluvial fan.
COLLAPSE
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.
EXPAND
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.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to punish by spanking; spank: Your mother will fan you good if you break that dish.
COLLAPSE

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Fans is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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 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

fan·like, adjective
fan·ner, noun
un·fanned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

fan

2[fan]
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


supporter, enthusiast, partisan, booster, addict.

Fan

[fan, fahn]
noun, plural Fans, (especially collectively) Fan.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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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


  1. tv.
    to ignore someone or something; to cut a class; to blow (so/sth) off. (Fan off = blow as in blow (so) off. Fan, from fanatic meaning “devotee” or “admirer” is very old and is Standard English.) : You have to meet with your teacher? Oh, fan that. It doesn't matter.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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