Fan
/fæn/
Definitions
4 meaningsA device with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.
/fæn/
An object used to create a current of air
The ceiling fan provided a gentle breeze.
💡 Simply: It's like a little helper that blows air on you when you're feeling hot, like a whirring friend in your room.
👶 For kids: A fan is something that blows air to make you feel cooler.
More Examples
I bought a new fan because the old one broke.
The electric fan circulated the air in the stuffy room.
How It's Used
"She turned on the fan to cool the room."
"The computer's fan makes a whirring noise."
A person who has a strong admiration for a particular person, team, subject, etc.
/fæn/
A devoted follower or enthusiast
The concert was full of screaming fans.
💡 Simply: It's someone who really, really likes something – like a team, a singer, or a show. They're always excited about it!
👶 For kids: A fan is someone who loves something very much, like a band or a game.
More Examples
She's a devoted fan of the author's books.
The team's fans were disappointed by the loss.
How It's Used
"He's a huge fan of the local baseball team."
"She's a lifelong fan of that singer."
To cool or refresh (someone or something) with a current of air.
/fæn/
To stimulate or refresh with air
She fanned her face with a magazine.
💡 Simply: To make something cooler by blowing air on it, like when you're fanning yourself on a hot day.
👶 For kids: To blow air on something to make it cooler.
More Examples
He fanned the embers to get the fire going.
The waiter fanned the dish to cool it down.
How It's Used
"She fanned herself with a newspaper in the heat."
"The chef fanned the flames to cook the food evenly."
To spread out in a fan-like shape.
/fæn/
To spread out or cause to spread out like a fan
The peacock fanned its feathers.
💡 Simply: To open up or spread something wide, like a fan.
👶 For kids: To open something up like a fan.
More Examples
The cards were fanned out on the table.
The police fanned out to search the park.
How It's Used
"The artist fanned the cards across the table."
"The soldiers fanned out to cover the area."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
hit the fan
To create a sudden and unwelcome crisis, to fail spectacularly or to create a negative situation.
"When the company announced layoffs, things really hit the fan."
fan the flames
To make a situation worse, typically by making existing anger, hatred, or conflict more intense.
"His inflammatory comments only served to fan the flames of the debate."
From Middle English fanne, from Old English fann (“fan”), from Proto-Germanic *fannō (“fan”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to sift, winnow”). The sense of 'enthusiast' is a shortening of 'fanatic', and appeared in the late 19th century.
The word 'fan' in its sense of 'enthusiast' emerged in the late 19th century, likely a shortening of 'fanatic'.