Advertisement

View synonyms for van

van

1

[ van ]

noun

  1. the foremost or front division of an army, a fleet, or any group leading an advance or in position to lead an advance.
  2. those who are in the forefront of a movement or the like.
  3. the forefront in any movement, course of progress, or the like.


van

2

[ van ]

noun

  1. a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving furniture, goods, animals, etc.
  2. a smaller boxlike vehicle that resembles a panel truck, often has double doors both at the rear and along the curb side, and that can be used as a truck, fitted with rows of seats, or equipped with living quarters for traveling and camping.
  3. British.
    1. a railway baggage car.
    2. a covered, boxlike railway car, as one used to carry freight.
    3. a small, horse-drawn wagon or a small truck, as one used by tradespeople to carry light goods.
  4. Also called van conversion. a conventional van whose cargo area has been equipped with living facilities, extra windows, and often increased headroom.

verb (used with object)

, vanned, van·ning.
  1. to transport or carry (freight, passengers, etc.) in a van.

verb (used without object)

, vanned, van·ning.
  1. to travel in a van.

van

3
or Van

[ van; Dutch vahn ]

preposition

  1. from; of (used in Dutch personal names, originally to indicate place of origin).

van

4

[ van ]

noun

, Archaic.
  1. a bird's wing or tail, especially when fanned out, as in flight or as part of a mating display.

Van

5

[ van; Turkish vahn ]

noun

  1. Lake, a salt lake in E Turkey. 1,454 sq. mi. (3,766 sq. km).
  2. a town on this lake.
  3. a male given name.

van

1

/ væn /

noun

  1. any device for winnowing corn
  2. an archaic or poetic word for wing
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


van

2

/ væn /

noun

  1. short for vanguard
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

3

/ væn /

noun

  1. short for advantage Usual US and Canadian wordad
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Van

4

/ vɑːn /

noun

  1. a city in E Turkey, on Lake Van. Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)
  2. Lake Van
    a salt lake in E Turkey, at an altitude of 1650 m (5400 ft): fed by melting snow and glaciers. Area: 3737 sq km (1433 sq miles)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

5

/ væn /

noun

  1. short for caravan
  2. a covered motor vehicle for transporting goods, etc, by road
  3. a closed railway wagon in which the guard travels, for transporting goods, mail, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of van1

First recorded in 1600–10; short for vanguard

Origin of van2

First recorded in 1820–30; short for caravan

Origin of van3

From Dutch

Origin of van4

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of fan 1
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of van1

C17: variant of fan 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

Finally, Van Cleef and Martin realize Liberty is going too far.

Artists like Mick Jagger and Van Morrison obsessively revered and imitated African-American blues and rock musicians.

"He brought Ray Charles to the mix as an influence on rock & roll," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt once raved.

Production expenses: equipment rental, lights, lighting board, van rental, trailer rental, road cases, backline.

“I went to a Jewish summer camp…” A van pulls up, and the two hop out, and immediately strip down and do a series of stretches.

Pierre Van Cortlandt, a distinguished revolutionary patriot, died at his seat at Croton river, aged 94.

Van Twiller was himself a grower of the plant and had his tobacco farm at Greenwich.

Remarks upon some errors in the hydrography of the south coast of Van Diemen's Land.

He held various offices with distinction; among others that of post master general under Mr. Van Buren.

She was not a road wagon, but a van driven by five horses, three leaders abreast, and reaching London in sixteen hours.

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


vamplatevanadate