fan

[ fan ]

/ fæn /

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. fly¹(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.

Nearby words

famotidine, famous, famous last words, famously, famulus, fan, fan base, fan belt, fan club, fan dance, fan delta

Idioms

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.

Origin of fan

before 900; Middle English, Old English fann < Latin vannus winnowing basket

Related formsfan·like, adjectivefan·ner, nounun·fanned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for hit the fan (1 of 2)

fan

/ (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 Formsfanlike, adjectivefanner, noun

Word Origin for fan

Old English fann, from Latin vannus

British Dictionary definitions for hit the fan (2 of 2)

fan

/ (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

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (1 of 3)

fan

n.1

device to make an air current, Old English fann (West Saxon) "a basket or shovel for winnowing grain" (by tossing it in the air), from Latin vannus, related to ventus "wind" (see wind (n.1)).

The chaff, being lighter, would blow off. Sense of "device for moving air" first recorded late 14c.; the hand-held version is first attested 1550s. A fan-light (1819) was shaped like a lady's fan.

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (1 of 3)

fan

n.2

"devotee," 1889, American English, originally of baseball enthusiasts, probably a shortening of fanatic, but may be influenced by the fancy, a collective term for followers of a certain hobby or sport (especially boxing); see fancy. There is an isolated use from 1682, but the modern word is likely a late 19c. formation. Fan club attested by 1930.

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (2 of 3)

fan

late Old English fannian "to winnow grain," from the noun (see fan (n.1)). Meaning "to stir up air" is from early 15c. Related: Fanned; fanning. To fan out "spread out like a hand-held fan," is from 1590s.

Idioms and Phrases with hit the fan (1 of 2)

hit the fan

see shit will hit the fan.

Idioms and Phrases with hit the fan (2 of 2)

fan

In addition to the idiom beginning with fan

fan the flames

also see:

shit will hit the fan

fan

noun

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

verb (used without object), fanned, fan·ning.

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of fan

British Dictionary definitions for hit the fan (1 of 2)

fan

noun

verb fans, fanning or fanned (mainly tr)

Word Origin for fan

British Dictionary definitions for hit the fan (2 of 2)

fan

noun

Word Origin for fan

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (1 of 3)

fan

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (1 of 3)

fan

Word Origin and History for hit the fan (2 of 3)

fan

Idioms and Phrases with hit the fan (1 of 2)

hit the fan

Idioms and Phrases with hit the fan (2 of 2)

fan