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• dan
  dan

  noun

  a degree of expertise in karate, judo, tae kwon do, etc., usually signified by the wearing of a cloth belt of a particular color; level.
• Dan
  Dan
• Dan.
  Dan.

  abbreviation

  Daniel.

dan

¹ American  

[dahn, dan] / dɑn, dæn /

noun

Martial Arts.

1. a degree of expertise in karate, judo, tae kwon do, etc., usually signified by the wearing of a cloth belt of a particular color; level.

   a sixth-degree dan.

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Dan ² American  

[dan] / dæn /

noun

1. 1. (in the Bible) a son of Jacob and Bilhah.

   2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel, traditionally descended from him.

2. the northernmost city of ancient Palestine.

3. a male given name, form of Daniel.

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idioms

1. from Dan to Beersheba, from one outermost extreme or limit to the other.

Dan ³ American  

[dan] / dæn /

noun

Archaic.

1. a title of honor equivalent to master or sir:

   Dan Chaucer.

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Dan. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Bible. Daniel.

2. Danish. Also Dan

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Dan ¹ British  

/ dæn /

noun

1. 1. the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis 30:1–6)

   2. the tribe descended from him

2. a city in the northern territory of Canaan

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Dan. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Bible Daniel

2. Danish

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dan ³ British  

/ dæn /

noun

1. any one of the 10 black-belt grades of proficiency

2. a competitor entitled to dan grading

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Dan ⁴ British  

/ dæn /

noun

1. an archaic title of honour, equivalent to Master or Sir

   Dan Chaucer

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dan ⁵ British  

/ dæn /

noun

1. Also called: dan buoy.  a small buoy used as a marker at sea

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Etymology

Origin of dan¹

First recorded in 1940–45; from Japanese, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese duàn “step, grade”

Origin of Dan³

1275–1325; Middle English < Old French danz < Medieval Latin domnus, contraction of Latin dominus “lord, master”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dan Dan Dan.

Since we were throwing tradition out the window anyway, we decided to blend the meatiness of Sichuan dan dan mian, or spicy noodles with ground pork, with the simplicity of peanut noodles.

From Washington Times ● May 15, 2023

These easy microwave-steamed eggs are reminiscent of Chinese zheng shui dan, Japanese chawanmushi and Korean gyeran jjim.

From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2023

And from the best tea shop in Los Angeles, Tea Habitat in Alhambra, owner Imen Shan specializes in oolongs with otherworldly fragrances called dan cong.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2022

Hot and warming, tender and just slightly sweet, fresh dan bing are a treat, and though they’re typically a breakfast food, there’s nothing wrong with having breakfast for dinner every once in a while.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2022

He was the only one of the Orkney dan who had refused to learn English correctly and spoke in a Northern accent—almost an assumed one.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

"Tim Cook left the house in phenomenal order," said Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director at investment firm Yorkville Ives & Co.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

“The impact is very grave,” said Dan Kelly, head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Former captain Michael Vaughan believes Dan Lawrence has shown enough to remain in the England Test side when Jacob Bethell returns from injury.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

If you have a question for Dan, please email [email protected] with “MarketWatch Q&A” in the subject line.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

On the ground, Dan was breathless and scared, but he wasn’t hurt.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

At a rally in Conroe that year, Trump openly acknowledged the endorsement pipeline, saying Patrick would call him with requests and he would respond, “Absolutely, Dan. Whatever you want, Dan.”

From Salon ● May 29, 2026

“It’s about fulfilling legacy, it’s about grief and love and loss and all those universal themes. Sure, it’s a story about Dan. But it’s a story about Susie and her boys, too.”

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 12, 2024

"I've always got on well with Cam, Andy, Dan. Those guys have been incredible role models for me and good support. I'm just very lucky to have them, I suppose."

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2023

Sports business analyst Andrew Brandt asked rhetorically, “The hits keep coming for Commander Dan. Continues the decades-long question: why has the NFL protected him so much?”

From Washington Times ● Feb. 28, 2023

“They won’t come in. They won’t, Papa. Little Ann might, but not Old Dan. He’d die before he’d leave a coon in a tree.”

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls