wan
1of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid; lacking color: His wan face suddenly flushed.
showing or suggesting ill health, fatigue, unhappiness, etc.: a wan look; a wan smile.
lacking in forcefulness, competence, or effectiveness: their wan attempts to organize the alumni.
Archaic.
dark or gloomy.
pale in color or hue.
to become or make wan.
Origin of wan
1synonym study For wan
Other words for wan
Opposites for wan
Other words from wan
- wanly, adverb
- wanness, noun
Other definitions for wan (2 of 3)
Other definitions for WAN (3 of 3)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wan in a sentence
Though Mrs. Wanning addressed her daughter, she looked at her husband.
A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays | Willa Cather“Goodnight, Mr. Wanning,” she said, drawing down her dotted veil.
A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays | Willa CatherWanning began to feel that he would not tire of his office in a hundred years.
A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays | Willa CatherWanning strolled aimlessly after her into the reception room.
A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays | Willa Cather“I think he is just right for it, Florence,” put in Mrs. Wanning.
A Collection of Stories, Reviews and Essays | Willa Cather
British Dictionary definitions for wan (1 of 2)
/ (wɒn) /
unnaturally pale esp from sickness, grief, etc
characteristic or suggestive of ill health, unhappiness, etc
(of light, stars, etc) faint or dim
to make or become wan
Origin of wan
1Derived forms of wan
- wanly, adverb
- wanness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for WAN (2 of 2)
wide area network
Nigeria (international car registration)
Origin of WAN
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for WAN
[ wăn ]
Short for wide area network.A communications network that uses such devices as telephone lines, satellite dishes, or radio waves to span a larger geographic area than can be covered by a LAN. The Internet is a WAN.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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