Advertisement

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, 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, 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

/ 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

  4. See delivery van

“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

/ ɑː /

noun

  1. a city in E Turkey, on Lake Van. Pop: 377000 (2005 est)

  2. 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

3

/ 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

van

4

/ 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

5

/ æ /

noun

  1. Usual US and Canadian word: ad.short for advantage

“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
Discover More

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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of van1

C17: variant of fan 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It is named after Vincent van Gogh as a tribute to the Dutch artist's painting of a simple chair.

From

"You've just got to keep going. I've got a business to run," he said, referring to his mobile coffee van which was hit during the first flood along with neighbours' vehicles.

From

"Have you seen any ICE vans? Are there patrol cars out there?" she asks, still unsure if we can be trusted and she can emerge.

From

At one point, she went downstairs and saw a white van parked across the street, after the other agents had left.

From

“All of a sudden, a bunch of vans and cars pulled up into the parking lot, and they just jumped on him,” he said.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


vamplatevanadate