fan

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a person who admires sb/sth or enjoys watching or listening to sb/sth very much: movie fans * crowds of football fans * a big fan of Pavarotti * fan mail (= letters from fans to the person they admire) 2 a machine with blades that go round to create a current of air: to switch on the electric fan * a fan heater seealsoEXTRACTOR 3 a thing that you hold in your hand and wave to create a current of cool air IDIOMS see SHITn. verb (-nn-) [VN] 1 to make air blow onto sb/sth by waving a fan, your hand, etc: He fanned himself with a newspaper to cool down. * A warm breeze fanned her cheeks. 2 to make a fire burn more strongly by blowing on it: Fanned by a westerly wind, the fire spread rapidly through the city. 3 (written) to make a feeling, an attitude, etc. stronger SYNFUEL: His reluctance to answer her questions simply fanned her curiosity. IDIOMS fan the flames (of sth) to make a feeling such as anger, hatred, etc. worse: His writings fanned the flames of racism. PHRASALVERBS fan out