Skip to main content
to fan

to fan

1 7.3
To make a baseball batter miss three pitches and lose their turn
  • verb
  • /fæn/
  • Jargon
translation icon : ponchar
  • In the final inning, the pitcher managed to fan the last batter with a perfect strikeout.

Examples

  • The robbers fan out in various directions.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The newsies fan out, blocking the way.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The men fan out nonchalantly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Sabathia followed that lead-off by Hardy with a wicked 2-2 slider to fan the Orioles' most dangerous threat, Adam Jones.

    Blog text (17)
  • The star pitcher was able to fan three batters in a row, impressing the crowd with his skills.

  • With a swift curveball, he managed to fan the batter, bringing the game to a thrilling conclusion.

Synonyms

to strike out
vsto fan
  • Jargon
31 4.1

In baseball, cause a batter to be out after they miss three pitches

focuses only on causing a batter to miss three pitches for a dismissal

Idioms

8 7.2

To make an argument or feeling worse by encouraging it

Phrasal Verbs

30 3.7

To spread out from one point in different directions

Compounds

353 1.6

A person who likes and supports someone or something

194 1.9

A person who really likes and supports someone or something

38 3.2

A group of people who strongly support someone like a singer or sports team

29 1.3

A person who loves watching and supporting sports teams

22 2.7

Letters or messages people send to a celebrity to show they like them

9 2.7

A message from someone who likes a famous person, showing praise or support

7 3.0

A person or thing many fans like most

fan belt
  • Specialized
5 3.7

A belt in a car engine that turns the fan to cool the engine

fan fiction
  • Jargon
5 3.5

A story fans write using people and places from books or films

A person who really likes the Star Wars movies and stories

4 2.7

A person who loves and supports a team, person, or group a lot

4 3.2

A fan that moves smoke or moist air out of a room to make it less stuffy

hardcore fan
  • Informal
3 3.7

A person who loves something like a band or team a lot and shows strong support

1 2.8

A flat narrow piece on a fan that turns to move air

1 1.0

A machine with turning blades that uses electricity to move air and cool a room or people

1 3.7

A fan in the attic that pushes out hot air to cool the house

fair-weather fan
  • Informal
1 7.4

A person who supports a team only when it is winning

alluvial fan
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A fan-shaped area of sand and stones that forms where a fast stream slows and spreads at a mountain base

fan dance
  • NSFW
1 8.6

A solo dance using large feather fans to hide and show the body in a sexy way

1 9.9

A Chinese gambling game where players bet on how many counters remain under a bowl after grouping them by four

1 6.3

The spread of information or products from one sender to many people

6.8

A dance in which dancers move fans in slow graceful ways for a show or celebration

fan fern
  • Australian
8.9

A large plant that grows in Australia and New Zealand with fan-shaped leaves that split many times

fan palm
  • Specialized
5.3

A tropical tree with large leaves shaped like a fan

fan tracery
  • Specialized
9.9

Stone patterns that form on a fan-shaped ceiling in Gothic cathedrals

fan vaulting
  • Specialized
9.1

A stone ceiling with ribs that spread out like a fan in Gothic churches

fan-jet
  • Specialized
6.4

An engine with a large fan that pushes extra air to make the plane go faster

fan-jet
  • Specialized
7.0

A plane powered by an engine with a large fan that makes it go faster

fan-out
  • Specialized
7.9

The number of other electronic parts a single device can drive

fan-out
  • Specialized
7.3

The number of other program parts a single part calls or depends on

miniature fan palm
  • Specialized
8.4

A small tropical plant with fan-shaped leaves, thin stems, and loose fibers at the leaf bases

A person who likes watching movies and often goes to the cinema

6.5

A flat, tree-shaped coral that grows in warm shallow seas

Surface Forms

fan infinitive
fanned past
fanned past participle
fanning present participle
fans third person singular

Etymology

Fan In baseball, to fan a batter means to make them 'strike out' by swinging and missing, and this sense uses the idea of a quick waving motion. A helpful way to remember is to picture the batter 'waving' the bat like a fan and missing the ball.