fan

¹

[ fan ]

noun

1. any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.
2. an implement of feathers, leaves, paper, cloth, etc., often in the shape of a long triangle or of a semicircle, for waving lightly in the hand to create a cooling current of air about a person:

   We sat on the veranda, cooling ourselves with palm-leaf fans.

3. anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird.
4. any of various devices consisting essentially of a series of radiating vanes or blades attached to and revolving with a central hublike portion to produce a current of air:

   ceiling fan; wall fan.

5. a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.
6. Horology. fly ²( def 28 ).
7. a semicircular decoration of bunting.
8. Physical Geography. an alluvial fan.

verb (used with object)

, fanned, fan·ning.

1. to move or agitate (the air) with or as if with a fan.
2. to cause air to blow upon, as from a fan; cool or refresh with or as if with a fan:

   He fanned his face with a newspaper.

3. to stir to activity with or as if with a fan:

   to fan a flame; to fan emotions.

4. (of a breeze, current of air, etc.) to blow upon, as if driven by a fan:

   A cool breeze fanned the shore.

5. to spread out like a fan:

   The dealer fanned the cards.

6. Informal. to move (oneself ) quickly:

   You'll fan your tail out of here if you know what's good for you.

7. Agriculture. to winnow, especially by an artificial current of air.
8. Baseball. (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).
9. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to punish by spanking; spank:

   Your mother will fan you good if you break that dish.

verb (used without object)

, fanned, fan·ning.

1. to strike, swing, or brush lightly at something.
2. Western U.S. (chiefly cowboy use). to slap the flanks of (a horse or other animal) repeatedly with a hat to get it to move or move faster.
3. to spread out like a fan (often followed by out ):

   The forest fire fanned out in all directions.

4. Baseball. (of a batter) to strike out, usually by swinging at and missing the pitch charged as the third strike.

fan

²

[ fan ]

noun

1. an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.:

   a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.

   Synonyms: addict, booster, partisan, enthusiast, supporter

Fan

³

[ fan, fahn ]

noun

, plural Fans, (especially collectively) Fan.

1. Fang.

fan

¹

/ fæn /

noun

1. 1. 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
   2. 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. agriculture
   1. a kind of basket formerly used for winnowing grain
   2. a machine equipped with a fan for winnowing or cleaning grain

verb

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 introften foll byout to spread out or cause to spread out in the shape of a fan
5. 1. to fire (an automatic gun) continuously by keeping the trigger depressed
   2. to fire (a nonautomatic gun) several times by repeatedly chopping back the hammer with the palm
6. to winnow (grain) by blowing the chaff away from it

fan

²

/ fæn /

noun

1. an ardent admirer of a pop star, film actor, football team, etc
2. a devotee of a sport, hobby, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈfanner, noun
• ˈfanlike, adjective

Other Words From

• fanlike adjective
• fanner noun
• un·fanned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fan¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English fann, from Latin vannus “winnowing basket”

Origin of fan²

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; short for fanatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of fan¹

Old English fann , from Latin vannus

Origin of fan²

C17, re-formed C19: from fan ( atic )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hit the fan, Slang. to become suddenly more awkward, embarrassing, or troublesome: shit ( def 26 ).

   When news of the incident was leaked to the press, everything hit the fan at once.

More idioms and phrases containing fan

In addition to the idiom beginning with fan , also see shit will hit the fan .

Example Sentences

We haven't had any real fan reaction yet, but our collective fingers are crossed.

From The Daily Beast

Why do you think you were “an asperg-y movie fan…a jabbering repellent acolyte?”

From The Daily Beast

Replying to a fan, she wrote, “Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw, Jewish wizard.”

From The Daily Beast

Comments like that are designed to stoke the fires of fan-passion—and it works beautifully.

From The Daily Beast

It is the most animated this Downton Abbey fan has ever seen Lady Grantham.

From The Daily Beast

She took the fan from Madame Ratignolle and began to fan both herself and her companion.

From Project Gutenberg

She bathed Madame Ratignolle's face with cologne, while Robert plied the fan with unnecessary vigor.

From Project Gutenberg

Rarely, sodium urate occurs in crystalline form—slender prisms, arranged in fan- or sheaf-like structures (Fig. 32).

From Project Gutenberg

She opened a large black fan and moved it slowly while looking intently at her son's bent profile.

From Project Gutenberg

In one, which occurs not infrequently, a thickened arm is made to expand into something like a fan-shaped hand, as in Fig. 18.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admirer
• buff
• devotee
• follower
• lover
• supporter