fan

1. 1

   A hand-held device consisting of concertinaed material, or slats of material, gathered together at one end, that may be opened out into the shape of a sector of a circle and waved back and forth in order to move air towards oneself and cool oneself.

   • How apt is the flutter of the fan to express the different affections of the belle: there is the angry flutter, the modest flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter etc.
2. 2

   An electrical or mechanical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.

   • He didn't switch on the fan because the temperature was 15 degrees Celsius.
3. 3

   The action of fanning; agitation of the air.

   • "If I cannot be of service, then I certainly don't wish to impose," said McGinty, with a quick fan of breeze that indicated a sweeping bow.
4. 4

   Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail or a leaf of fan coral.

   • “My roses are red,” it answered, “as red as the feet of the dove, and redder than the great fans of coral that wave and wave in the ocean-cavern.”
5. 5

   An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.

   • The oxen likewise and the yong asses that eare the ground, shall eate cleane prouender which hath bene winnowed with the shouell and with the fanne.
   • Whose fanne is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floore, and gather his wheat into the garner: but wil burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire.
6. 6

   A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock mill always in the direction of the wind.

7. 7

   A group of overlapping cards exposed in various patience games.

8. 8

   A section of a tree having a finite number of branches.

syn. admirer · aficionado · buff · connoisseur · enthusiast · devotee · maniac · fan · fanatic · fancier · fancy · fiend

1. 1

   To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.transitive

   • We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind.
2. 2

   To slap (a behind, especially).transitive

   • Part of it was that as much as I respected filial devotion and as much as I liked Sarah Barstow, it would have been a real satisfaction to put her across my knees and pull up her skirts and giver^([sic]) her a swell fanning, for not taking
3. 3

   To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.intransitive

4. 4

   To dispel by waving a hand-held fan.transitive

   • I attempted to fan the disagreeable odour out of the room.
5. 5

   To perform a maneuver that involves flicking the top rear of an old-style gun.transitive

   • To fan a single action revolver, hold down the trigger and strike the hammer repeatedly with a free hand.
6. 6

   To invigorate, like flames when fanned.figuratively

   • She comes, to fan my ardour, She kills me with her kisses.
7. 7

   To winnow grain.

   • By the first article, these fanning mills were appointed to be sent to the proprietors of the mills of Sault-à-la puce, Petit-Pré, Beauport, Pointe de Lévy, St. Nicolas and Ste. Famille in the isle of Orleans " to have all the wheat in gene
8. 8

   To apply (the air brake) many times in rapid succession.transitive

   • Fanning the brakes results in the gradual depletion of the pressure in the cars' brake reservoirs, which can eventually cause a loss of all braking.
9. 9

   To strike out.intransitive

10. 10

    To strike out (a batter).transitive

1. 1

   A person who is fond of something or someone, especially an admirer of a performer or aficionado of a sport.

   • I am a big fan of libraries.
   • I am a big fan of cricket.

syn. admirer · aficionado · buff · connoisseur · enthusiast · devotee · maniac · fan · fanatic · fancier · fancy · fiend

ant. anti-fan · hater

1. 1

   A unit of length, equivalent to 0.1 tsun (0.01 chek), or 0.00371475 metres.Hong-Kongdated

   • 1 chek (foot) = 14⅝ English inches divided into 10 tsün (inches) and each tsün into ten fan or tenths.

syn. admirer · aficionado · buff · connoisseur · enthusiast · devotee · maniac · fan · fanatic · fancier · fancy · fiend