fan¹ /fan/

1. A broad, flat instrument, esp used by women to cool themselves, typically in or spreading into the shape of a sector of a circle
2. A rotating ventilating or blowing apparatus
3. Any fan-shaped structure, eg a deposit of alluvium
4. Anything spreading in a fan shape, eg a bird's wing or tail
5. A propeller screw or propeller blade
6. A small sail to keep a windmill to the wind
7. A whale's tail-fluke
8. A basket formerly used for winnowing corn by throwing it in the wind
9. Any instrument for winnowing

1. To move by a fan or the like
2. To direct a current of air upon
3. To cool or to kindle with, or as if with, a fan
4. To fire (a non-automatic gun) by pulling back and releasing the hammer with the other hand
5. To winnow

1. To move like a fan
2. To flutter

fannˈer noun

A fanning apparatus for winnowing, ventilation, etc

fannˈings plural noun

The material strained from tea

fanˈwise adverb

In the manner of a fan

fan belt noun

(in motor vehicles) a continuous belt that drives the alternator and the cooling fan for the radiator

fan dance noun

A solo dance in the nude (or nearly so) in which the performer attempts concealment (or nearly so) by tantalizing manipulation of a fan or fans or a bunch of ostrich, etc feathers

fanˈfold adjective

(of paper) in a continuous strip, scored or perforated so as to fall flat in sections, used for computer print-out

fan heater noun

An electric heater containing a fan that drives out heated air

fanˈ-jet noun

(an aeroplane with) an engine in which air is taken in through a fan and some of it, bypassing compressors, combustion chamber and turbines, is added to the exhaust to increase thrust

fanˈlight noun

1. A window over a door or another window, orig resembling an open fan in shape
2. A skylight

fan oven noun

An oven containing a fan that circulates the heated air, making heating uniform and shortening cooking time

fan palm noun

Any palm with palmate or hand-shaped leaves, esp palmetto

fanˈ-shaped adjective

Forming a sector of a circle

fanˈtail noun

1. A tail shaped like a fan
2. A variety of domestic pigeon with tail feathers spread out like a fan
3. A member of various other classes of fantailed birds such as the Australian genus of flycatchers Rhipidura
4. An artificially bred goldfish with double anal and caudal fins
5. A feature having parts radiating from a centre (architecture)

1. (also fanˈtailed) having a fan-shaped tail
2. Having parts radiating from a centre (architecture)

fan tracery or fan vaulting noun (architecture)

Tracery rising from a capital or a corbel, and diverging like the folds of a fan over the surface of a vault

fan wheel noun

A wheel with fans on its rim for producing a current of air

fan out

To fan or spread like a fan from a centre

fan² /fan/

A devotee or enthusiastic follower of some sport or hobby or public figure

fanˈdom noun

fanˈzine /-zēn/ noun

A magazine by and for amateur enthusiasts, esp of science fiction, pop music, or football

fan base noun

The fans of a team, person or thing, considered as a demographic group

fanˈboy noun (informal)

An obsessively enthusiastic fan of an element of popular culture, esp comic books or films

fan club noun

A group united by devotion to a celebrity

fan fiction noun

A style of fiction in which authors take the characters and setting of a favourite book, TV programme, etc and invent new plots and situations for them (short form fanˈfic)

fan mail noun

Letters from devotees to a celebrity

fan'site noun

A website devoted to fans of a particular celebrity, TV programme, etc.

• prankles
• prankling
• pranks
• pranksome
• prankster
• pranksters
• pranky
• prase
• praseodymium
• praseodymiums
• prases
• prat
• prate
• prated
• prater
• praters
• prates
• pratfall
• pratfallen
• pratfalling
• pratfalls
• pratfell
• pratie
• praties
• pratincole