¹fan

noun \ˈfan\

Definition of FAN

: any of various devices for winnowing grain

: an instrument for producing a current of air: as

a : a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usually shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use

b : a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor

c slang : an airplane propeller

a : something resembling an open fan

b : a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus; especially : alluvial fan

— fan·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Origin of FAN

Middle English, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus — more at winnow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

Rhymes with FAN

an, ban, bran, can, clan, Dan, flan, Jan, Klan, man, pan, Pan, panne, plan, scan, Shan, span, tan, van, Van

²fan

verb

: to move air on or toward (someone or something) with a fan

baseball : to strike out

fannedfan·ning

Full Definition of FAN

transitive verb

a : to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air

b : to eliminate (as chaff) by winnowing

: to move or impel (air) with a fan

: to blow or breathe upon <the breeze fanning her hair>

a : to direct a current of air upon with a fan

b : to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate <fanning the fires of nationalism>

archaic : wave

slang : spank

: to spread like a fan <the peacock fanned his tail>

: to strike (a batter) out in baseball

: to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free hand

intransitive verb

: to move like a fan : flutter

: to spread like a fan —often used with out <the searchers fanned out>

: strike out 3

— fan·ner \ˈfa-nər\ noun

See fan defined for English-language learners