n. & v.
—n.
1 an apparatus, usu. with rotating blades, giving a current of air for ventilation etc.
2 a device, usu. folding and forming a semicircle when spread out, for agitating the air to cool oneself.
3 anything spread out like a fan, e.g. a bird's tail or kind of ornamental vaulting (fan tracery).
4 a device for winnowing grain.
5 a fan-shaped deposit of alluvium esp. where a stream begins to descend a gentler slope.
6 a small sail for keeping the head of a windmill towards the wind.
—v. (fanned, fanning)
1 tr. a blow a current of air on, with or as with a fan. b agitate (the air) with a fan.
2 tr. (of a breeze) blow gently on; cool.
3 tr. a winnow (grain). b winnow away (chaff).
4 tr. sweep away by or as by the wind from a fan.
5 intr. & tr. (usu. foll. by out) spread out in the shape of a fan.
Phrases and idioms:
fan belt a belt that drives a fan to cool the radiator in a motor vehicle. fan dance a dance in which the dancer is (apparently) nude and partly concealed by fans. fan heater an electric heater in which a fan drives air over an element. fan-jet = TURBOFAN. fan palm a palm-tree with fan-shaped leaves.
Derivatives:
fanlike adj. fanner n.
Etymology: OE fann (in sense 4 of n.) f. L vannus winnowing-fan
2.
n. a devotee of a particular activity, performer, etc. (film fan; football fan).
Phrases and idioms:
fan club an organized group of devotees. fan mail letters from fans.
Derivatives:
fandom n.
Etymology: abbr. of FANATIC
Useful english dictionary. 2012.