The meaning of Fan

noun

A person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug.

Usage examples:

A former heroin addict

noun

A person who is unable to stop doing or using something

noun

Someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.

Usage examples:

He was a strong adherent of monetarism

adjective

Sticking fast to an object or surface.

Usage examples:

The eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent

noun

Someone who strongly supports an idea, plan, person, etc.

Usage examples:

She has been an adherent of home schooling for years.

noun

A person who has a particular regard for someone or something.

Usage examples:

He was a great admirer of henry james

noun

Someone who finds someone else sexually attractive, or someone who admires someone or something

Usage examples:

She's got plenty of admirers., she's got a secret admirer who keeps sending her gifts., the policy …

verb

Introduce air into (a material).

Usage examples:

Before seeding, consider aerating the lawn

verb

To add a gas to liquid, especially a drink

Usage examples:

Aerated water, earthworms help to aerate the soil., aerated soil

noun

A piece of equipment that adds air to water or soil

noun

A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.

Usage examples:

A crossword aficionado

noun

Someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject

Usage examples:

A club for model railway aficionados, an aficionado of french cinema

noun

The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.

Usage examples:

The surface tension of water is increased, and even the density of air surrounding the earth ebbs a…

verb

Express (an opinion or grievance) publicly.

Usage examples:

A meeting in which long-standing grievances were aired

verb

Evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response).

Usage examples:

Something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions

verb

Rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping.

Usage examples:

Anna was awakened by the telephone

verb

To stop sleeping, or to cause someone to stop sleeping

Usage examples:

[ t ] the family was awakened by a noise., [ t ] his television series awakened popular interest in…

noun

(in ancient egypt) the supposed soul of a person or god, which survived after death but had to be sustained with offerings of food. it was typically represented as a human-headed bird.

Usage examples:

The ba is everything other than the body that makes a person an individual.

abbreviation

Bachelor of arts.

Usage examples:

David brown, ba

noun

The chemical element of atomic number 56, a soft white reactive metal of the alkaline earth group.

noun

A person, institution, or country that supports someone or something, especially financially.

Usage examples:

He was the principal backer of the company

verb

(of wind) move creating an air current.

Usage examples:

A cold breeze was blowing in off the sea

noun

A strong wind.

Usage examples:

We're in for a bit of a blow

noun

A powerful stroke with a hand, weapon, or hard object.

Usage examples:

He received a blow to the skull

noun

A person or thing that blows, especially a mechanical device for creating a current of air used to dry or heat something.

Usage examples:

The shower will stop automatically and warm air blowers will dry you off

noun

A device that blows out air, for example to heat or cool a place, or to remove something from a place

Usage examples:

Turn the heater control to hot, and set the blower to medium/high speed., use the blower to collect…

noun

A part of a tree which grows out from the trunk or from a bough.

Usage examples:

Sophie was in the branches of a tree eating an apple

verb

(of a road or path) divide into one or more subdivisions.

Usage examples:

Follow this track south until it branches into two

noun

A yellowish-beige colour.

Usage examples:

A buff envelope

verb

Polish (something).

Usage examples:

He buffed the glass until it gleamed

adjective

(of a person or their body) in good physical shape with well-developed muscles.

Usage examples:

The driver was a buff blond named march

noun

A harmful microorganism, typically a bacterium.

Usage examples:

Their ham was found to be contaminated with food bugs

verb

Conceal a miniature microphone in (a room or device) in order to listen to or record someone's conversations secretly.

Usage examples:

Their offices, homes, and telephones were bugged

noun

A person who has surpassed all rivals in a sporting contest or other competition.

Usage examples:

A champion hurdler

verb

Vigorously support or defend the cause of.

Usage examples:

He championed the rights of the working class and the poor

adjective

Excellent.

Usage examples:

‘thank ye, lad,’ the farmer said. ‘that's champion.’

noun

An expert judge in matters of taste.

Usage examples:

A connoisseur of music

noun

A person who has expert knowledge of something, esp. an art, food, or drink, and is qualified to judge and appreciate its quality

Usage examples:

The mushrooms had the chewy, savory flavor preferred by connoisseurs.

noun

Someone who has a lot of experience of something and knows a lot about it

Usage examples:

A connoisseur of fine wine, this product will be marketed at connoisseurs.

adjective

Of or at a fairly low temperature.

Usage examples:

It'll be a cool afternoon

noun

A fairly low temperature.

Usage examples:

The cool of the night air

verb

Become or make less hot.

Usage examples:

We dived into the river to cool off

noun

A person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something.

Usage examples:

A devotee of lewis carroll

noun

A personal follower of christ during his life, especially one of the twelve apostles.

Usage examples:

Jesus' apostles and disciples in the early church felt the importance of prayer ahead of missionary…

noun

A person who believes in the ideas of a leader, esp. a religious or political one, and tries to live according to those ideas

Usage examples:

Jesse jackson was a disciple of martin luther king, jr.

verb

Give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).

Usage examples:

We were encouraged by the success of this venture

verb

To make someone more likely to do something, or to make something more likely to happen

Usage examples:

[ t + to infinitive ] we were encouraged to learn foreign languages at school., the council is enco…

verb

To talk or behave in a way that gives someone confidence to do something

Usage examples:

Encourage someone in something they've always encouraged me in everything i've wanted to do.

verb

Set on fire.

Usage examples:

The glare from its enkindled roof illumined its innermost recesses

noun

A person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject.

Usage examples:

A sports car enthusiast

noun

Someone who is very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity

Usage examples:

A computer-games enthusiast

verb

Cause (someone) to feel very enthusiastic and eager.

Usage examples:

Flying still excites me

verb

To make someone have strong feelings, esp. of happiness and enthusiasm

Usage examples:

In some science fiction movies, the music and special effects can really excite audiences., the str…

verb

To cause activity in a market by causing lots of people to buy and sell stocks and shares

Usage examples:

A significant oil find by the group in western india has excited the market., the bullish product u…

noun

A person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area.

Usage examples:

An expert in healthcare

adjective

Having or involving a great deal of knowledge or skill in a particular area.

Usage examples:

He had received expert academic advice

noun

A person having a high level of knowledge or skill in a particular subject

Usage examples:

He is the administration’s foreign-policy expert for eastern europe., she’s an expert swimmer.

verb

(of a substance) undergo fermentation.

Usage examples:

The drink had fermented, turning some of the juice into alcohol

noun

Agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence.

Usage examples:

A period of political and religious ferment

verb

To change chemically through the action of living substances, such as yeast or bacteria, or to use a substance to produce a chemical change

Usage examples:

He was a central figure in the intellectual ferment of his time.

noun

An evil spirit or demon.

Usage examples:

The evil that was spawned from cain became spirits, monsters, fiends, goblins and giants, forging t…

noun

A person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas.

Usage examples:

Followers of nietzsche

noun

Someone who obeys or supports another person or that person’s ideas

Usage examples:

The newly elected governor appeared overcome with emotion as he thanked his followers., they are en…

noun

A company or product that only makes new changes, enters a market, etc. after other companies or products have done this first

Usage examples:

Law firms are not leaders in business, they are followers., our analysis supports the view of germa…

verb

Instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).

Usage examples:

They accused him of fomenting political unrest

verb

To cause something bad or illegal to develop

Usage examples:

To foment revolution

noun

A very unusual and unexpected event or situation.

Usage examples:

The teacher says the accident was a total freak

verb

Behave or cause to behave in a wild and irrational way, typically because of the effects of extreme emotion or drugs.

Usage examples:

He freaked out and smashed the place up

adjective

Extremely unusual or unlikely

Usage examples:

She died in a freak automobile accident., a freak midsummer hailstorm caught us all by surprise., m…

verb

Make (something) newer, cleaner, or more attractive.

Usage examples:

It didn't take long to freshen her make-up

verb

To make something more clean and pleasant

Usage examples:

These mints are supposed to freshen your breath., [ t ] she opened a window to freshen the room., […

noun

Material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.

Usage examples:

One aircraft ran out of fuel and had to ditch

verb

Supply or power (an industrial plant, vehicle, or machine) with fuel.

Usage examples:

Power stations fuelled by low-grade coal

noun

A young woman who regularly follows a pop group or other celebrity, especially in the hope of having a sexual relationship with them.

Usage examples:

He pulled a different groupie every night

noun

A person who admires and tries to meet someone famous, esp. a popular musician

Usage examples:

Groupies were hanging around the entrance while he was recording here.

verb

Catch fire or cause to catch fire.

Usage examples:

Furniture can give off lethal fumes when it ignites

verb

To start burning, or to cause something to start burning

Usage examples:

[ t ] the forest fire began when a spark from a campfire ignited some dry grass nearby., [ t ] fig.…

verb

Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour).

Usage examples:

They conspired to incite riots

verb

Provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone.

Usage examples:

High fines further inflamed public feelings

verb

To excite someone’s strong feelings or make them stronger

Usage examples:

The defense objected to the graphic pictures, claiming they were meant merely to inflame the jury.

verb

Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

Usage examples:

His philosophy inspired a later generation of environmentalists

verb

Serve as the inciting cause of

verb

Bring about or initiate (an action or event).

Usage examples:

They instigated a reign of terror

verb

Provoke or stir up

verb

To cause an event or situation to happen by your actions

Usage examples:

Changes in the orientation program were instigated by the new director.

noun

A disc jockey.

Usage examples:

Dashboard confessional took the stage to a lot of high-pitched screaming and proceeded to impress e…

noun

Another term for jockstrap.

noun

A scotsman (often as a form of address).

noun

A drug addict.

Usage examples:

I thought my destiny was to be a heroin addict, a junkie for the rest of my life; i couldn't stop m…

noun

A person who regularly takes and is dependent on illegal drugs, esp. heroin

Usage examples:

If you want to follow politics, basically you have to become a talk-show junkie.

verb

Set (something) on fire.

Usage examples:

Last night i built the first fire i've kindled in years and it came back to me, that instinctual pu…

noun

A litter of kittens.

Usage examples:

She was asked to take in a kindle of kittens

verb

To cause a fire to start burning

Usage examples:

Fig. great literature kindled their imaginations (= made them work).

noun

A partner in a sexual or romantic relationship outside marriage.

Usage examples:

I think she had a secret lover

noun

A partner in a romantic or physical relationship

Usage examples:

The remote island is ideal for nature lovers.

noun

A person exhibiting extremely wild or violent behaviour.

Usage examples:

When he sits in front of a playstation he transforms into a karate-choppin' maniac

combining form

Forming nouns corresponding to words ending in -mania.

Usage examples:

Kleptomaniac

noun

A person who has an unusually strong interest in an activity or subject

Usage examples:

My brother is a maniac when it comes to football., a homicidal maniac

noun

A fruit consisting of a hard or tough shell around an edible kernel.

Usage examples:

He was cracking nuts with his teeth

verb

Butt (someone) with one's head.

Usage examples:

I thought he was going to nut me in the face

abbreviation

(in the uk) national union of teachers.

adjective

Allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked.

Usage examples:

He climbed through the open window

verb

Move (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and vision.

Usage examples:

She opened the door and went in

noun

Make or become formally ready for customers, visitors, or business.

Usage examples:

She raised $731 by opening her home and selling coffee and tea

adjective

Fully extended or expanded.

Usage examples:

Outspread hands

verb

Spread out.

Usage examples:

That eagle outspreading his wings for flight

adjective

Spread as far as possible

Usage examples:

A bronze statue of an angel with outspread wings

verb

Stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

Usage examples:

The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations

verb

Provide the needed stimulus for

verb

To try to make a person or an animal angry or annoyed

Usage examples:

He was trying to provoke me into a fight., i’m trying to make people think, provoke their emotions.…

noun

(in india) a large cloth fan on a frame suspended from the ceiling, moved backwards and forwards by pulling on a cord.

Usage examples:

The punkah wallah fell asleep over his task

verb

Give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate.

Usage examples:

The shower had refreshed her

noun

An act or function of updating the display on a screen.

Usage examples:

A faster-running system with snappy screen refreshes

verb

To give new energy and strength to someone

Usage examples:

A good night’s sleep will refresh you., lemonade is a good refresher on a hot summer day.

verb

Open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length.

Usage examples:

I spread a towel on the sand and sat down

noun

The fact or process of spreading over an area.

Usage examples:

Warmer temperatures could help reduce the spread of the disease

verb

Distribute or disperse widely

verb

Raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system).

Usage examples:

The women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

Tax cuts will stimulate the economy., read books to stimulate your child’s imagination., some veget…

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

The government plans to cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy., stimulate growth/investment/t…

verb

(of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.

Usage examples:

My jumper stretched in the wash

noun

An act of stretching one's limbs or body.

Usage examples:

I got up and had a stretch

verb

To reach across a distance or become longer or wider, or to cause something to do this

Usage examples:

[ i ] rubber stretches when you pull it., [ t ] the banner was stretched across the street., [ m ] …

noun

A person who approves of and encourages a public figure, political party, policy, etc.

Usage examples:

Labour supporters

noun

A person who actively helps someone

Usage examples:

Supporters of the bill expect it to pass., he is a strong supporter of states’ rights.

noun

A small device that releases a spring or catch and so sets off a mechanism, especially in order to fire a gun.

Usage examples:

He pulled the trigger of the shotgun

verb

Cause (a device) to function.

Usage examples:

Burglars fled empty-handed after triggering the alarm

noun

A part of a gun that causes the gun to fire when pressed

Usage examples:

To pull the trigger, i triggered the smoke alarm when i burned the potatoes., eating chocolate can …

verb

Open or spread out from a folded position.

Usage examples:

He unfolded the map and laid it out on the table

verb

Extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length

verb

(of a situation or story) to develop or become clear

Usage examples:

Events unfolded in a way that no one could have predicted., she took the old wedding dress out and …

verb

Make or become spread out from a rolled or folded state, especially in order to be open to the wind.

Usage examples:

A man was unfurling a sail

verb

Cause air to enter and circulate freely in (a room, building, etc.).

Usage examples:

Ventilate the greenhouse well

verb

To cause fresh air to enter and move around an enclosed space

Usage examples:

Public buildings must be safe, clean, well lighted, and properly ventilated.

noun

An appliance or aperture for ventilating a room or other space.

Usage examples:

A corridor along the room on one side has ventilators opening onto the drain.

noun

An opening or a device that allows fresh air to come into a closed space

Usage examples:

The bathroom had no window but it had an electric ventilator., he was brought into intensive care s…

noun

A person, such as a monk or nun, who has made vows of dedication to religious service.

Usage examples:

The conflict between the votaries of hindutva votaries and the left-secular intellectuals has preoc…

noun

A person who has made a promise to serve a particular religion or god

Usage examples:

James nayler was one of the most zealous votaries of quakerism., "how could you, a votary of non-vi…

verb

Another term for wake1 (sense 1 of the verb).

Usage examples:

She knew he would waken in an hour or so

verb

To (cause to) wake from sleep

Usage examples:

I shook him but he didn't waken., waken me at 7.00, would you?

noun

A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Usage examples:

He says there have always been religious zealots, but modern technology has given them a lethal cap…

noun

A person who has very strong opinions about something, and tries to make other people have them too

Usage examples:

A religious zealot