Fan (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.
  2. 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.
  3. anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird.
  4. 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.
  5. a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.
  6. fly2 (def. 28).
  7. a semicircular decoration of bunting.
  8. an alluvial fan.
verb (used with object), fanned, fan·ning.
  1. to move or agitate (the air) with or as if with a fan.
  2. 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.
  3. to stir to activity with or as if with a fan: to fan a flame; to fan emotions.
  4. (of a breeze, current of air, etc.) to blow upon, as if driven by a fan: A cool breeze fanned the shore.
  5. to spread out like a fan: The dealer fanned the cards.
  6. to move (oneself) quickly: You'll fan your tail out of here if you know what's good for you.
  7. to winnow, especially by an artificial current of air.
  8. (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).
  9. to punish by spanking; spank: Your mother will fan you good if you break that dish.
verb (used without object), fanned, fan·ning.
  1. to strike, swing, or brush lightly at something.
  2. to slap the flanks of (a horse or other animal) repeatedly with a hat to get it to move or move faster.
  3. to spread out like a fan (often followed by out): The forest fire fanned out in all directions.
  4. (of a batter) to strike out, usually by swinging at and missing the pitch charged as the third strike.
Idioms
  1. to become suddenly more awkward, embarrassing, or troublesome: When news of the incident was leaked to the press, everything hit the fan at once.
noun
  1. an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.
noun, plural Fans, (especially collectively) Fan.
  1. Fang.
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
  1. any of various hand-agitated devices for cooling onself, esp a collapsible semicircular series of flat segments of paper, ivory, etc
  2. something shaped like such a fan, such as the tail of certain birds
  3. 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)
  1. to cause a current of air, esp cool air, to blow upon, as by means of a fan
  2. to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc) with or as if with a fan
  3. to make fiercer, more ardent, etc
  4. 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
  5. to winnow (grain) by blowing the chaff away from it
noun
  1. an ardent admirer of a pop star, film actor, football team, etc
  2. a devotee of a sport, hobby, etc
Fan (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

More Definitions