fan

Signification

Noun

1. A hand-held device consisting of concertinaed material, or slats of material, gathered together at one end, that may be opened out into the shape of a sector of a circle and waved back and forth in order to move air towards oneself and cool oneself.
2. An electrical or mechanical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.
3. The action of fanning; agitation of the air.
4. Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail.
5. An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.
6. A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock mill always in the direction of the wind.
7. A section of a tree having a finite number of branches

Verb

1. To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.
2. To slap (a behind, especially).
3. To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.
4. To dispel by waving a hand-held fan.
5. To perform a maneuver that involves flicking the top rear of an old-style gun.
6. To invigorate, like flames when fanned.
7. To winnow grain.
8. To apply (the air brake) many times in rapid succession.
9. To strike out.
10. To strike out (a batter).

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/fæn/

Étymologie

table
Inherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”).
cognates
*Latin ventus (“wind”)
*Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”)
*German Wanne (“winnowing basket”)
*Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”)
*Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”).
More at winnow.

Phrases

Fred Deakin was a fan of the group in his adolescence .

Fred Deakin était un fan du groupe dans son adolescence.