Main Entry:

²fan

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

fanned; fan·ning

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1 a: to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air b: to eliminate (as chaff) by winnowing2: to move or impel (air) with a fan3: to blow or breathe upon <the breeze fanning her hair>4 a: to direct a current of air upon with a fan b: to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate <fanning the fires of nationalism>5archaic : wave6slang : spank7: to spread like a fan <the peacock fanned his tail>8: to strike (a batter) out in baseball9: to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free handintransitive verb1: to move like a fan : flutter2: to spread like a fan —often used with out<the searchers fanned out>3: strike out 3

— fan·ner \ˈfa-nər\ noun