fan

Meaning

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

Synonyms

supporter

ventilator

ventilate

admirer

blower

blow

wave

👋

devotee

winnow

lover

❤️

enthusiast

flutter

follower

aficionado

aerate

rooter

stir up

flap

adherent

winnowing machine

winnower

fan oneself

hand fan

electric fan

amateur

buff

shake

🫨

groupie

oscillate

friend

mechanical fan

agitate

evangelist

disciple

vane

sports fan

wind

promoter

cooler

proponent

flop

fire

🔥

salesman

cauterise

burn up

bake

burn off

burn

astonishment

breathe

Translations

éventail

abanico

éventer

Ventilator

ventilateur

ventaglio

Fächer

ventilatore

Fan

ventilador

ventilador

abanicar

ανεμιστήρας

waaier

Anhänger

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fæn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: fan

Inherited from Old English: fann

Cognate with Latin: ventus

Cognate with Dutch: wan

Cognate with German: Wanne

Cognate with Swedish: vanna

Cognate with Old English: windwian

In summary

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.

Sentences

In May the group decided to try to expand their fan base into Russia .

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

If you're a fan of " The Simpsons ", you'll love this book .