'Fan' definitions:
Definition of 'fan'
From: WordNet
noun
A device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
noun
An enthusiastic devotee of sports [syn: sports fan, fan, rooter]
noun
verb
Strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
verb
Make (an emotion) fiercer; "fan hatred"
verb
Agitate the air
verb
Separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field" [syn: winnow, fan]
Definition of 'Fan'
From: GCIDE
- Fan \Fan\ (f[a^]n), n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. Van a winnowing machine, Winnow.]
- 1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as: (a) An instrument for cooling the person, made of feathers, paper, silk, etc., and often mounted on sticks all turning about the same pivot, so as when opened to radiate from the center and assume the figure of a section of a circle. (b) (Mach.) Any revolving vane or vanes used for producing currents of air, in winnowing grain, blowing a fire, ventilation, etc., or for checking rapid motion by the resistance of the air; a fan blower; a fan wheel. (c) An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away. (d) Something in the form of a fan when spread, as a peacock's tail, a window, etc. (e) A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind. [1913 Webster]
- Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. --Is. xxx. 24. [1913 Webster]
- 2. That which produces effects analogous to those of a fan, as in exciting a flame, etc.; that which inflames, heightens, or strengthens; as, it served as a fan to the flame of his passion. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A quintain; -- from its form. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Fan blower, a wheel with vanes fixed on a rotating shaft inclosed in a case or chamber, to create a blast of air (fan blast) for forge purposes, or a current for draft and ventilation; a fanner.
- Fan cricket (Zool.), a mole cricket.
- Fan light (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are set in the circular heads of arched doorways.
- Fan shell (Zool.), any shell of the family Pectinid[ae]. See Scallop, n., 1.
- Fan tracery (Arch.), the decorative tracery on the surface of fan vaulting.
- Fan vaulting (Arch.), an elaborate system of vaulting, in which the ribs diverge somewhat like the rays of a fan, as in Henry VII.'s chapel in Westminster Abbey. It is peculiar to English Gothic.
- Fan wheel, the wheel of a fan blower.
- Fan window. Same as Fan light (above).
- electric fan. a fan having revolving blades for propelling air, powered by an electric motor. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Fan'
From: GCIDE
- Fan \Fan\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Fanning.] [Cf. OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine.]
- 1. To move as with a fan. [1913 Webster]
- The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face of with a fan. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion. [1913 Webster]
- Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat. --Jer. li. 2. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To excite or stir up to activity, as a fan excites a flame; to stimulate; as, this conduct fanned the excitement of the populace. [1913 Webster]
- Fanning machine, or Fanning mill, a machine for separating seed from chaff, etc., by a blast of air; a fanner. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Fan'
From: Easton
- Fan a winnowing shovel by which grain was thrown up against the wind that it might be cleansed from broken straw and chaff (Isa. 30:24; Jer. 15:7; Matt. 3:12). (See AGRICULTURE.)
Synonyms of 'fan'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abettor,
- adherent,
- admirer,
- advocate,
- aerate,
- aerator,
- aficionado,
- agitate,
- air,
- air conditioner,
- air cooler,
- air filter,
- air out,
- air passage,
- air-condition,
- air-cool,
- airify,
- airscrew,
- amateur,
- angel,
- annoy,
- apologist,
- appendage,
- applauder,
- appreciator,
- arouse,
- attendant,
- attender,
- audience,
- authority,
- awake,
- awaken,
- backer,
- blow the coals,
- blow up,
- blower,
- bomb,
- booster,
- branch,
- branch out,
- buff,
- bug,
- call forth,
- call up,
- cavaliere servente,
- champion,
- chiller,
- claqueur,
- cold pack,
- collector,
- commender,
- connoisseur,
- cooler,
- cooling system,
- courtier,
- crank,
- crap out,
- critic,
- cross-ventilate,
- crotch,
- crutch,
- dangler,
- defender,
- delta,
- dependence,
- dependent,
- deploy,
- devotee,
- dilettante,
- disciple,
- disperse,
- draw a blank,
- driver,
- drop a bomb,
- drop the ball,
- electric fan,
- encomiast,
- encourager,
- endorser,
- energumen,
- enkindle,
- enrage,
- enthusiast,
- eulogist,
- eulogizer,
- excite,
- exhaust fan,
- expand,
- expert,
- exponent,
- extend,
- extoller,
- fan out,
- fan the fire,
- fan the flame,
- fanatic,
- fanatico,
- fancier,
- favorer,
- feed the fire,
- ferment,
- fire,
- flabellum,
- flame,
- flare,
- flop,
- flummox,
- flunky,
- fold,
- fold up,
- follower,
- following,
- foment,
- fork,
- freak,
- frenzy,
- frequenter,
- freshen,
- friend at court,
- frisk,
- furcula,
- furculum,
- get left,
- groin,
- groupie,
- habitue,
- hanger-on,
- haunter,
- heat,
- heat up,
- henchman,
- homme de cour,
- hound,
- ice bag,
- ice bucket,
- ice cube,
- ice pack,
- ice pail,
- idolater,
- idolizer,
- impassion,
- impeller,
- incense,
- incite,
- infatuate,
- inflame,
- infuriate,
- inguen,
- instigate,
- key up,
- kindle,
- lather up,
- lauder,
- lay an egg,
- light the fuse,
- light up,
- lose out,
- lover,
- lunatic fringe,
- madden,
- Maecenas,
- mainstay,
- maintainer,
- monomaniac,
- move,
- nettle,
- not hack it,
- not make it,
- nut,
- offshoot,
- open,
- open up,
- outspread,
- outstretch,
- overexcite,
- overgrow,
- overrun,
- oxygenate,
- oxygenize,
- paddle wheel,
- panegyrist,
- paranymph,
- parasite,
- partisan,
- patron,
- pique,
- piston,
- plugger,
- praiser,
- promoter,
- prong,
- prop,
- propellant,
- propeller,
- propulsor,
- protagonist,
- provoke,
- public,
- puffer,
- pundit,
- punkah,
- pursuer,
- pursuivant,
- put up to,
- rally,
- ramification,
- ramify,
- refresh,
- reliance,
- rooter,
- rotor,
- rouse,
- ruffle,
- satellite,
- savant,
- scholar,
- screw,
- screw propeller,
- second,
- seconder,
- sectary,
- set astir,
- set fire to,
- set on,
- set on fire,
- shadow,
- shake down,
- sic on,
- sider,
- specialist,
- spectator,
- splay,
- sponsor,
- spraddle,
- sprangle,
- sprawl,
- spread,
- spread like wildfire,
- spread out,
- stalwart,
- standby,
- steam up,
- stem,
- stir,
- stir the blood,
- stir the embers,
- stir the feelings,
- stir up,
- stooge,
- strike out,
- successor,
- summon up,
- support,
- supporter,
- surface cooler,
- sustainer,
- sympathizer,
- tagtail,
- tail,
- take the count,
- technical expert,
- technician,
- theatergoer,
- thermantidote,
- tickle,
- tout,
- touter,
- trainbearer,
- trident,
- turbine,
- turn on,
- twin screws,
- unfold,
- upholder,
- V,
- ventilate,
- ventilator,
- visitor,
- votary,
- wake,
- wake up,
- waken,
- ward heeler,
- warm,
- warm the blood,
- water cooler,
- well-wisher,
- wheel,
- whet,
- whiff,
- whip up,
- widen,
- wind,
- windcatcher,
- windsail,
- windscoop,
- wine cooler,
- winnow,
- wishbone,
- work into,
- work up,
- worshiper,
- zealot
Words containing 'Fan'
- Fanned,
- Fanning,
- fan out,
- Exhaust fan,
- Fan blower,
- Fan cricket,
- Fan light,
- Fan palm,
- Fan shell,
- Fan tracery,
- Fan training,
- Fan vaulting,
- Fan wheel,
- Fan window,
- Fanning Springs,
- Fanning machine,
- Fanning mill,
- Sea fan,
- Venus's fan,
- alluvial fan,
- attic fan,
- electric fan,
- fan belt,
- fan blade,
- fan corals,
- fan dance,
- fan fern,
- fan letter,
- fan mail,
- fan shaped,
- fan tan,
- fan the flame,
- sports fan,
- Fan-nerved,
- Fan-tailed,
- Fan-tan,
- Fanning Springs, FL,
- fan-jet,
- fan-leafed,
- fan-leaved,
- fan-shaped,
- miniature fan palm,
- motion-picture fan