- any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.
- 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.
- anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird.
- 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.
- a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain.
- fly2 (def. 28).
- a semicircular decoration of bunting.
- an alluvial fan.
- to move or agitate (the air) with or as if with a fan.
- 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.
- to stir to activity with or as if with a fan: to fan a flame; to fan emotions.
- (of a breeze, current of air, etc.) to blow upon, as if driven by a fan: A cool breeze fanned the shore.
- to spread out like a fan: The dealer fanned the cards.
- to move (oneself) quickly: You'll fan your tail out of here if you know what's good for you.
- to winnow, especially by an artificial current of air.
- (of a pitcher) to strike out (a batter).
- to punish by spanking; spank: Your mother will fan you good if you break that dish.
- to strike, swing, or brush lightly at something.
- to slap the flanks of (a horse or other animal) repeatedly with a hat to get it to move or move faster.
- to spread out like a fan (often followed by out): The forest fire fanned out in all directions.
- (of a batter) to strike out, usually by swinging at and missing the pitch charged as the third strike.
- to become suddenly more awkward, embarrassing, or troublesome: When news of the incident was leaked to the press, everything hit the fan at once.
- an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.
- Fang.
- 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
- any of various hand-agitated devices for cooling onself, esp a collapsible semicircular series of flat segments of paper, ivory, etc
- something shaped like such a fan, such as the tail of certain birds
- agriculture
- a kind of basket formerly used for winnowing grain
- a machine equipped with a fan for winnowing or cleaning grain
- to cause a current of air, esp cool air, to blow upon, as by means of a fan
- to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc) with or as if with a fan
- to make fiercer, more ardent, etc
- 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
- to winnow (grain) by blowing the chaff away from it
- an ardent admirer of a pop star, film actor, football team, etc
- a devotee of a sport, hobby, etc