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definitions

van

1
[van]
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noun

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

Origin of van

1
First recorded in 1600–10; short for vanguard

van

2
[van]

noun

a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving furniture, goods, animals, etc.
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.
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.
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.

to transport or carry (freight, passengers, etc.) in a van.

verb (used without object), vanned, van·ning.

to travel in a van.

Origin of van

2
First recorded in 1820–30; short for caravan

van

3
[van; Dutch vahn]

preposition (often initial capital letter)

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

Origin of van

3
From Dutch

van

4
[van]

noun

a wing.

Origin of van

4
1400–50;late Middle English, variant of fan1

Van

[van; for 1, 2 also Turkish vahn]

noun

Lake, a salt lake in E Turkey. 1454 sq. mi. (3766 sq. km).
a town on this lake.
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for van

caravan, camper, truck, wagon, cart, lead

Examples from the Web for van

Contemporary Examples of van

Historical Examples of van

  • Tell Mrs. Van Geist if she can't come down, I'll run up to her.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Mrs. Van Geist fixed her niece with a sudden look of suspicion.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • I'm pretty sure that Mrs. Van Dam dislikes to see us together.

  • A lovely girl, my dear Mrs. Van Dam,' she said; 'a privilege to know her.

  • Kitty was with them, and she darted towards me, but Mrs. Van Dam was before her.

British Dictionary definitions for van

van

1

noun

short for caravan (def. 1)
a covered motor vehicle for transporting goods, etc, by road
British a closed railway wagon in which the guard travels, for transporting goods, mail, etc
British See delivery van

van

2

noun

short for vanguard

van

3

noun tennis, mainly British

short for advantage (def. 3) Usual US and Canadian word: ad

van

4

noun

any device for winnowing corn
an archaic or poetic word for wing

Word Origin for van

C17: variant of fan 1

Van

noun

a city in E Turkey, on Lake Van. Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)
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
Word Origin and History for van
n.1

"front part of an army or other advancing group," c.1600, shortening of vanguard.

n.2

"covered truck or wagon," 1829, shortening of caravan.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper