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. 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).

Concepts

fan

supporter

ventilate

ventilator

admirer

blower

blow

wave

devotee

winnow

lover

enthusiast

follower

flutter

aficionado

aerate

stir up

flap

rooter

hand fan

oscillate

shake

groupie

amateur

buff

winnowing machine

winnower

electric fan

fan oneself

friend

adherent

proponent

flop

agitate

wind

vane

cooler

sports fan

fire

evangelist

promoter

salesman

mechanical fan

disciple

applaud

bang

beat

break

clap

coin

cream

duel

fight

fly

hammer

hit

palpitate

pound

retreat

scour

scramble

scuffle

slam

strike

throb

thrash

thresh

wallop

whip

air

amour

one who loves something

royal long-handled fan

delta

inlet

mouth

amplify

magnify

air-conditioner

blade

paddle

excite by blowing

blow gently

cool by fanning

refresh

fool

punka

punkah

beckon

debt

entilator

beau

swain

partisan

votarist

votary

submarine bulge

submarine delta

exhaust blower

exhaust fan

blast fan

flow fan

fanning machine

pneumatic concentrator

winnow mill

inspire

stimulate

urge on

blow bellows

folding fan

spectrum

blow on

swing

cheerer

commentator

cool off

tuuletin

fire up

foment

fuel

heat

inflame

provoke

stampede

think

put out

bake

burn

burn off

burn up

cauterise

cauterize

fritter away

parch

retire

scorch

sear

set afire

smoke

sting

strike out

tag

torch

urticate

blast

breathe

whiff

ally

brush away

sweep

wipe clean

cause to burn

fanatic

exhauster

hot head

ceiling fan

wannabe

incite

bewilder

confused

crazy about

lost

ravish

astonishment

advocate

advocator

henchman

pursuivant

pinwheel

sifter

splash

surfaces

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fæn/

Etymology

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.

Sentences

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