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View synonyms for

van

1

[ van ]

noun

  1. the foremost or front division of an army, a fleet, or any group leading an advance or in position to lead an advance.
  2. those who are in the forefront of a movement or the like.
  3. the forefront in any movement, course of progress, or the like.


van

2

[ van ]

noun

  1. a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving furniture, goods, animals, etc.
  2. a smaller boxlike vehicle that resembles a panel truck, often has double doors both at the rear and along the curb side, and that can be used as a truck, fitted with rows of seats, or equipped with living quarters for traveling and camping.
  3. British.
    1. a railway baggage car.
    2. a covered, boxlike railway car, as one used to carry freight.
    3. a small, horse-drawn wagon or a small truck, as one used by tradespeople to carry light goods.
  4. Also called van conversion. a conventional van whose cargo area has been equipped with living facilities, extra windows, and often increased headroom.

verb (used with object)

vanned, vanning.
  1. to transport or carry (freight, passengers, etc.) in a van.

verb (used without object)

vanned, vanning.
  1. to travel in a van.

van

3
or Van

[ van; Dutch vahn ]

preposition

  1. from; of (used in Dutch personal names, originally to indicate place of origin).

van

4

[ van ]

noun

Archaic.
  1. a bird's wing or tail, especially when fanned out, as in flight or as part of a mating display.

Van

5

[ van; Turkish vahn ]

noun

  1. Lake, a salt lake in E Turkey. 1,454 sq. mi. (3,766 sq. km).
  2. a town on this lake.
  3. a male given name.

Van

1

/ ɑː /

noun

  1. a city in E Turkey, on Lake Van. Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)
  2. Lake Van
    a salt lake in E Turkey, at an altitude of 1650 m (5400 ft): fed by melting snow and glaciers. Area: 3737 sq km (1433 sq miles)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

2

/ æ /

noun

  1. short for caravan
  2. a covered motor vehicle for transporting goods, etc, by road
  3. a closed railway wagon in which the guard travels, for transporting goods, mail, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

3

/ æ /

noun

  1. short for vanguard
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

4

/ æ /

noun

  1. short for advantage Usual US and Canadian wordad
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

van

5

/ æ /

noun

  1. any device for winnowing corn
  2. an archaic or poetic word for wing
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of van1

First recorded in 1600–10; short for vanguard

Origin of van2

First recorded in 1820–30; short for caravan

Origin of van3

From Dutch

Origin of van4

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of fan 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of van1

C17: variant of fan 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A witness recorded the incident on camera from a nearby bedroom window and saw Mr Clark being taken to a police van.

From

Because of the rain, Criterion employees allowed guests to begin filing into the van early, at about 9:45, around the same time they officially closed the line to more people.

From

Virgil van Dijk - the first non-British captain to lead Liverpool to a top flight title - dedicated the triumph to the club's supporters.

From

The van driver, Daniel Burba, the father of the passenger, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, but has since been discharged.

From

The group has drawn attention, criticism and jail terms for protests ranging from throwing soup on Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers and spray-painting Charles Darwin's grave, to climbing on M25 gantries.

From

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