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Added 7 October 2026

fan

/fæn/ symbol

In Latin: flābellum, tabella Wiktionary

symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fan at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-3 language code for Fang (Bantu).

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.
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.
The action of fanning; agitation of the air.

verb

To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.
We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind.
To slap (a behind, especially).
To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.

noun

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.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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