fan
/fæn/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.92 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
noun
An electrical or mechanical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.
noun
Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail.
noun
An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "He didn't switch on the fan because the temperature was 15 degrees Celsius."
- ""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."
- "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."
- "We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind."
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English fan, inherited from Old English fann (“a winnowing, fan”), derived from Latin vannus (“fan for winnowing grain”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”). Cognates * Latin ventus (“wind”) * Dutch wan (“winnowing basket”) * German Wanne (“winnowing basket”) * Swedish vanna (“a fan for winnowing”) * Old English windwian (“to fan, winnow”). More at winnow.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /fæn/
- British English: /fæn/