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van

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van

1[van] ,
–noun
1. the foremost or front division of an army, a fleet, or any group leading an advance or in position to lead an advance.
2. those who are in the forefront of a movement or the like.
3. the forefront in any movement, course of progress, or the like.

Origin:
1600–10; short for vanguard

van

2[van] noun, verb, vanned, van⋅ning.
–noun
1. a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving furniture, goods, animals, etc.
2. a smaller boxlike vehicle that resembles a panel truck, often has double doors both at the rear and along the curb side, and that can be used as a truck, fitted with rows of seats, or equipped with living quarters for traveling and camping.
3. British.
a. a railway baggage car.
b. a covered, boxlike railway car, as one used to carry freight.
c. a small, horse-drawn wagon or a small truck, as one used by tradespeople to carry light goods.
4. Also called van conversion. a conventional van whose cargo area has been equipped with living facilities, extra windows, and often increased headroom.
–verb (used with object)
5. to transport or carry (freight, passengers, etc.) in a van.
–verb (used without object)
6. to travel in a van.

Origin:
1820–30; short for caravan

van

3[van; Du. vahn] ,
–preposition (often initial capital letter)
from; of (used in Dutch personal names, originally to indicate place of origin).

Origin:
< D

van

4[van] ,
–noun
a wing.

Origin:
1400–50;late ME, var. of fan 1

Van

[van; for 1, 2 also Turk. vahn]
–noun
1. Lake, a salt lake in E Turkey. 1454 sq. mi. (3766 sq. km).
2. a town on this lake. 88,597.
3. a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To van
van 1   (vān)   
n.  
    1. An enclosed boxlike motor vehicle having rear or side doors and side panels especially for transporting people.

    2. A covered or enclosed truck or wagon often used for transporting goods or livestock.

  1. Chiefly British A closed railroad car used for carrying baggage or freight.

v.   vanned, van·ning, vans

v.   tr.
To transport by van: vanned the horses to the racetrack.
v.   intr.
To drive or travel in a van: vanned around the country.

[Short for caravan.]
van 2   (vān)   
n.  The vanguard; the forefront.

[Short for vanguard.]
van 3   (vān)   
n.  
  1. A wing.

  2. Archaic A winnowing device, such as a fan.


[Middle English, from Old English fann and Old French van, both from Latin vannus; see wet-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Van   (vān, vän)   
A salt lake of eastern Turkey. It is the largest lake in the country.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Computing Dictionary

VAN
Value Added Network

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
van
  1. caravan

  2. vanguard

VAN
value-added network
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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