Main Entry: ¹fan

Pronunciation: \ˈfan\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fann, from Latin vannus — more at winnow

Date: before 12th century

1 : any of various devices for winnowing grain
2 : an instrument for producing a current of air: as a : a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usually shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use b : a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor c slang : an airplane propeller
3 a : something resembling an open fan b : a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus; especially : alluvial fan

— fan·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective