fan

[ fan ]

/ fæn /

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noun

any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.

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.

anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird.

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.

a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.

Horology. fly² (def. 28).

a semicircular decoration of bunting.

Physical Geography. an alluvial fan.

verb (used with object), fanned, fan·ning.

to move or agitate (the air) with or as if with a fan.

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.

to stir to activity with or as if with a fan: to fan a flame; to fan emotions.

(of a breeze, current of air, etc.) to blow upon, as if driven by a fan: A cool breeze fanned the shore.

to spread out like a fan: The dealer fanned the cards.

Informal. to move (oneself) quickly: You'll fan your tail out of here if you know what's good for you.

Agriculture. to winnow, especially by an artificial current of air.

Baseball. (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).

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.

to strike, swing, or brush lightly at something.

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.

to spread out like a fan (often followed by out): The forest fire fanned out in all directions.

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

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Idioms about fan

hit the fan, Slang. to become suddenly more awkward, embarrassing, or troublesome: When news of the incident was leaked to the press, everything hit the fan at once.See also shit (def. 26).

Origin of fan

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

OTHER WORDS FROM fan

fanlike, adjectivefanner, nounun·fanned, adjective

Other definitions for fan (2 of 3)

fan²

[ fan ]

/ fæn /

noun

an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.

OTHER WORDS FOR fan

supporter, enthusiast, partisan, booster, addict.

See synonyms for fan on Thesaurus.com

Origin of fan

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

Other definitions for fan (3 of 3)

Fan

[ fan, fahn ]

/ fæn, fɑn /

noun, plural Fans, (especially collectively) Fan.

Fang.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fan in a sentence

Now of course Fanner Brown's boy knew that his father didn't mean that figures could speak right out.
The Adventures of Bob White|Thornton W. Burgess
Fanner Brown's boy took him outside the henyard and gently put him down on the ground.
The Adventures of Bob White|Thornton W. Burgess
She knew that Bob was right, and that Fanner Brown's boy had proved himself a true friend from whom there was nothing to fear.
The Adventures of Bob White|Thornton W. Burgess
He had not done anything to show that he was a fanner of rebellion.
Pabo, The Priest|Sabine Baring-Gould

His eyes were shut, and he didn't; hear what Fanner Brown's boy said.
The Adventures of Old Man Coyote|Thornton W. Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for fan (1 of 2)

fan¹

/ (fæn) /

noun

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
a machine that rotates such a device

any of various hand-agitated devices for cooling onself, esp a collapsible semicircular series of flat segments of paper, ivory, etc

something shaped like such a fan, such as the tail of certain birds

agriculture

a kind of basket formerly used for winnowing grain
a machine equipped with a fan for winnowing or cleaning grain

verb fans, fanning or fanned (mainly tr)

to cause a current of air, esp cool air, to blow upon, as by means of a fanto fan one's face

to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc) with or as if with a fan

to make fiercer, more ardent, etcfan one's passion

(also intr often foll by out) to spread out or cause to spread out in the shape of a fan

to fire (an automatic gun) continuously by keeping the trigger depressed
to fire (a nonautomatic gun) several times by repeatedly chopping back the hammer with the palm

to winnow (grain) by blowing the chaff away from it

Derived forms of fan

fanlike, adjectivefanner, noun

Word Origin for fan

Old English fann, from Latin vannus

British Dictionary definitions for fan (2 of 2)

fan²

/ (fæn) /

noun

an ardent admirer of a pop star, film actor, football team, etc

a devotee of a sport, hobby, etc

Word Origin for fan

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with fan

fan

In addition to the idiom beginning with fan

fan the flames

also see:

shit will hit the fan

fan

Idioms about fan

Origin of fan

OTHER WORDS FROM fan

Other definitions for fan (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR fan

Origin of fan

Other definitions for fan (3 of 3)

Words related to fan

How to use fan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fan (1 of 2)

Derived forms of fan

Word Origin for fan

British Dictionary definitions for fan (2 of 2)

Word Origin for fan

Other Idioms and Phrases with fan