fans
English meaning: Fans
Definition
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.
Example
“Thousands of fans packed the stadium for the final.”
Another example: “On hot nights the ceiling fans barely stirred the air.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral and everyday; has two distinct senses: enthusiasts of something (football fans, music fans) and devices that move air (electric fan, hand fan). Context separates them. Plural of 'fan'; informal in the 'enthusiast' sense.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
The 'enthusiast' sense is a late-19th-century American shortening of 'fanatic'; the 'air-moving device' sense is from Old English 'fann', from Latin 'vannus' (winnowing basket).
Synonyms
- supporters
- enthusiasts
- admirers
- devotees
- followers
Antonyms / Opposites
- critics
- detractors
Related Words
- alike
- disappointed
- attendance
- fan
- tickets
- enjoy
- stadium
- rivalry
Common Collocations
- football fans
- die-hard fans
- ceiling fan
- electric fan
- loyal fans
- fans cheered
Word Forms
fan (n); fans (pl.); fan (v); fanned; fanning
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B