fan 1 (f
n)
n.1. A device for creating a current of air or a breeze, especially:
a. A machine using an electric motor to rotate thin, rigid vanes in order to move air, as for cooling.
b. A collapsible, usually wedge-shaped device made of a light material such as silk, paper, or plastic.
2. A machine for winnowing.
3. Something resembling an open fan in shape: a peacock's fan.
v. fanned,
fan·ning,
fans
v.tr.1. To move or cause a current of (air) with or as if with a fan.
2. To direct a current of air or a breeze upon, especially in order to cool: fan one's face.
3. To stir (something) up by or as if by fanning: fanned the flames in the fireplace; a troublemaker who fanned resentment among the staff.
4. To open (something) out into the shape of a fan: The bird fanned its colorful tail.
5. a. To fire (an automatic gun) in a continuous sweep by keeping one's finger on the trigger.
b. To fire (a nonautomatic gun) rapidly by chopping the hammer with the palm.
6. To winnow.
7. Baseball To strike out (a batter).
v.intr.1. To spread out like a fan: The troops fanned out from the beachhead.
2. Baseball To strike out.
[Middle English,
winnowing fan, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus; see wet-1 in Indo-European roots.]
fan 2 (f
n)n. An ardent devotee; an enthusiast.
[Short for
fanatic.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by
Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
fan1
n1. (Engineering / Mechanical Engineering)
a. any device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or number of surfaces, esp a rotating device consisting of a number of blades attached to a central hub
b. a machine that rotates such a device
2. any of various hand-agitated devices for cooling onself, esp a collapsible semicircular series of flat segments of paper, ivory, etc.
3. something shaped like such a fan, such as the tail of certain birds
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture)
Agriculturea. a kind of basket formerly used for winnowing grain
b. a machine equipped with a fan for winnowing or cleaning grain
vb fans,
fanning,
fanned (mainly tr)1. to cause a current of air, esp cool air, to blow upon, as by means of a fan to fan one's face
2. to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc.) with or as if with a fan
3. to make fiercer, more ardent, etc. fan one's passion
4. (also intr; often foll by out) to spread out or cause to spread out in the shape of a fan
5. (Military / Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery)
a. to fire (an automatic gun) continuously by keeping the trigger depressed
b. to fire (a nonautomatic gun) several times by repeatedly chopping back the hammer with the palm
6. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) to winnow (grain) by blowing the chaff away from it[Old English
fann, from Latin
vannus]
fanlike adj
fanner n