fan

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

fan, n. [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain; cf. F. van. Cf. Van a winnowing machine, Winnow.].

•  An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface  [1913 Webster]

  "Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan."  [1913 Webster]
•  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]
•  A quintain; -- from its form.  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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any shell of the family Pectinidæ. 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.

fan, v. t. [Cf. OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine.].

•  To move as with a fan.  [1913 Webster]

  "The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face of with a fan.  [1913 Webster]
•  To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion.  [1913 Webster]

  "Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves."  [1913 Webster]
•  To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat.  Jer. li. 2.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

fan, 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.

Idiom

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.

Derivative

fanlike adj. fanner n.

fan, n. a devotee of a particular activity, performer, etc. (film fan; football fan).

Idiom

fan club an organized group of devotees. fan mail letters from fans.

Derivative

fandom n.

Etymology

abbr. of FANATIC

THESAURUS

fan

Maecenas, V, 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, 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, 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

ROGET THESAURUS

fan

Refreshment

VB brace, reinvigorate, air, freshen up, refresh, recruit, repair, fan, refocillate, refresh the inner man, breathe, respire, drink in the ozone, take a break, take a breather, take five, draw breath, take a deep breath, take breath, gather breath, take a long breath, regain breath, recover breath, get better, raise one's head, recover one's strength, regain one's strength, renew one's strength, perk up, get one's second wind, come to oneself, feel refreshed, feel like a giant refreshed.

Amusement

N amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games, diversion, divertissement, reaction, solace, pastime, passetemps, sport, labor of love, pleasure, relaxation, leisure, fun, frolic, merriment, jollity, joviality, jovialness, heyday, laughter, jocosity, jocoseness, drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery, mummery, pleasantry, wit, quip, quirk, giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout, horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh, guffaw, burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter, cachinnation, Kentish fire, tiger, play, game, game at romps, gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine, escapade, echappee, bout, espieglerie, practical joke, dance, hop, reel, rigadoon, saraband, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance, minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha, fandango, cancan, bayadere, breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis, break dancing, nautch-girl, shindig, skirtdance, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance, galop, galopade, jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey, allemande, gavot, gavotte, tarantella, mazurka, morisco, morris dance, quadrille, country dance, folk dance, cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley, ballet, ball, bal, bal masque, bal costume, masquerade, Terpsichore, festivity, merrymaking, party, blowout, hullabaloo, hoedown, bat, bum, bust, clambake, donation party, fish fry, jamboree, kantikoy, nautch, randy, squantum, tear, Turnerfest, yule log, fete, festival, gala, ridotto, revels, revelry, reveling, carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks, feast, banquet, regale, symposium, wassail, carouse, carousal, jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre, regatta, field day, treat, round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making, rejoicing, jubilee, bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker, holiday, gala day, red letter day, play day, high days and holidays, high holiday, Bank holiday, May day, Derby day, Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Bairam, wayz-goos, bean feast, Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Mardi gras, mi-careme, feria, fiesta, place of amusement, theater, hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom, music hall, park, plaisance, national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public), arbor, garden, pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground, tennis court, racket court, bowling alley, green alley, croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum, skating rink, roundabout, merry-go-round, swing, montagne Russe, game of chance, game of skill, athletic sports, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, tournament, pugilism, sports, horse racing, the turf, aquatics, skating, sliding, cricket, tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace, pall- mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, quintain, greasy pole, quoits, horseshoes, discus, rounders, lacrosse, tobogganing, water polo, knurr and spell, leapfrog, hop skip and jump, mother may I, French and English, tug of war, blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper, hide and seek, kiss in the ring, snapdragon, cross questions and crooked answers, crisscross, hopscotch, jacks, jackstones, marbles, mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag, billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle, bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain, American bowls, tenpins, tivoli, cards, card games, whist, rubber, round game, loo, cribbage, besique, euchre, drole, ecarte, picquet, allfours, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit, boston, boaston, blackjack, twenty- one, vingtun, quinze, thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs, banker, blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker, bluff, bridge, bridge whist, lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my- neighbor, baccarat, ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce, joker, trump, wild card, spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, major suit, minor suit, bower, right bower, left bower, dummy, jackpot, deck, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush, misere chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire, game of fox and goose, monopoly, loto, scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman, morra, gambling, toy, plaything, bauble, doll, teetotum, knickknack, magic lantern, peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show, toy shop, quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, entertainer, showman, showgirl, dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man, vaudeville act, singer, musician, sportsman, gamester, reveler, master of ceremonies, master of revels, pompom girl, arbiter elegantiarum, arbiter bibendi, archer, fan, toxophilite, turfman, amusing, entertaining, diverting, recreational, recreative, lusory, pleasant, laughable, witty, fun, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish, playful, playful as a kitten, sportive, ludibrious, funny, very funny, hilarious, uproarious, side-splitting, amused, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw, laughing, risible, ready to burst, ready to split, ready to die with laughter, convulsed with laughter, rolling in the aisles, on the light fantastic toe, at play, in sport, Int, vive la bagatelle!, vogue la galere!, deus nobis haec otia fecit, dum vivimus vivamus, dulce est desipere in loco, (every room) hath blazed with lights and brayed wi, misce stullitiam consiliis brevem.

Impulse

VB flash on the mind, say what comes uppermost, improvise, extemporize, give an impetus, impel, push, start, give a start to, set going, drive, urge, boom, thrust, prod, foin, cant, elbow, shoulder, jostle, justle, hustle, hurtle, shove, jog, jolt, encounter, run against, bump against, butt against, knock one's head against, run one's head against, impinge, boost, bunt, carom, clip y, fan, fan out, jab, plug, strike, knock, hit, tap, rap, slap, flap, dab, pat, thump, beat, blow, bang, slam, dash, punch, thwack, whack, hit hard, strike hard, swap, batter, dowse, baste, pelt, patter, buffet, belabor, fetch one a blow, poke at, pink, lunge, yerk, kick, calcitrate, butt, strike at, whip, come into a collision, enter into collision, collide, sideswipe, foul, fall foul of, run foul of, telescope, throw.

Air

VB air, ventilate, fan.

Wind

N wind, draught, flatus, afflatus, efflation, eluvium, air, breath, breath of air, puff, whiff, zephyr, blow, breeze, drift, aura, stream, current, jet stream, undercurrent, gust, blast, squall, gale, half a gale, storm, tempest, hurricane, whirlwind, tornado, samiel, cyclone, anticyclone, typhoon, simoon, simoom, harmattan, monsoon, trade wind, sirocco, mistral, bise, tramontane, levanter, capful of wind, fresh breeze, stiff breeze, keen blast, blizzard, barber, candelia, chinook, foehn, khamsin, norther, vendaval, wuther, windiness, ventosity, rough weather, dirty weather, ugly weather, stress of weather, dirty sky, mare's tail, thick squall, black squall, white squall, anemography, aerodynamics, wind gauge, weathercock, vane, weather- vane, wind sock, anemometer, anemoscope, sufflation, insufflation, perflation, inflation, afflation, blowing, fanning, ventilation, sneezing, errhine, sternutative, sternutatory, sternutation, hiccup, hiccough, catching of the breath, Eolus, Boreas, Zephyr, cave of Eolus, air pump, air blower, lungs, bellows, blowpipe, fan, ventilator, punkah, branchiae, gills, flabellum, vertilabrum, whiffle ball, blowing, windy, flatulent, breezy, gusty, squally, stormy, tempestuous, blustering, boisterous, pulmonic, pulmonary, lull'd by soft zephyrs, the storm is up and all is on the hazard, the winds were wither'd in the stagnant air, while mocking winds are piping loud, winged with red lightning and tempestuous rage.

VB blow, waft, blow hard, blow great guns, blow a hurricane, wuther, stream, issue, respire, breathe, puff, whiff, whiffle, gasp, wheeze, snuff, snuffle, sniff, sniffle, sneeze, cough, fan, ventilate, inflate, perflate, blow up.

Refrigeration

N refrigeration, infrigidation, reduction of temperature, cooling, congelation, conglaciation, ice, solidification, ice box (refrigerator), extincteur, fire annihilator, amianth, amianthus, earth- flax, mountain-flax, flexible asbestos, fireman, fire brigade (incombustibility), incombustibility, incombustibleness, (insulation), air conditioning, central air conditioning, air conditioner, fan, attic fan, dehumidifier, cooled, frozen out, cooling, frigorific.

VB cool, fan, refrigerate, refresh, ice, congeal, freeze, glaciate, benumb, starve, pinch, chill, petrify, chill to the marrow, regelate, nip, cut, pierce, bite, make one's teeth chatter, damp, slack quench, put out, stamp out, extinguish, go out, burn out (incombustibility).