Noun

(en noun)

A hand-held device consisting of concertinaed material, or slats of material, gathered together at one end, that may be opened out into the shape of a sector of a circle and waved back and forth in order to move air towards oneself and cool oneself.

An electrical device for moving air, used for cooling people, machinery, etc.

Anything resembling a hand-held fan in shape, e.g., a peacock’s tail.

An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.

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The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan .

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Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock windmill always in the direction of the wind.

Noun

(en-noun)

An admirer or aficionado, especially of a sport or performer; someone who is fond of something or someone; an admirer.

I am a big fan of libraries.

Noun

(en noun)

A man, particularly a bold, strong, vigorous man.

A fellow; a petulant, young man.

Noun

(en noun)

A sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; a whim of fancy; a capricious prank; a vagary or caprice.

Someone or something that is markedly unusual.

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A hippie.

* {{quote-journal

, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source) , first = Paul A. , last = Eschholz , title = Freak compounds for 'argot freaks' , journal = American Speech , volume = 44 , issue = 4 , url = , page = 306-07 , passage = When long-haired, outlandishly dressed, drug-using hippies pilgrimaged to Haight-Ashbury in the early 1960s, they were quickly dubbed freaks'''''; the pejorative appellation was both obvious and intended. It was not long before '''''freak''''' had become practically synonymous with ''hippie''. It seems, however, that with the acceptance of long hair, the appearance and popularity of some rather bizarre fashions, and the emphasis placed upon "doing one's own thing," '''''freak is no longer burdened with all of its former derogatory associations. Instead ... the word is beginning to acquire a quality which is favorable, glamorous, and somehow even admirable. }}

A drug addict.

* {{quote-journal

, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source) , first = Paul A. , last = Eschholz , title = Freak compounds for "argot freaks" , journal = American Speech , volume = 44 , issue = 4 , url = , page = 306-07 , passage = Smith and Sturges [June 1969] note in their study of the San Francisco drug scene that freak means "anyone addicted to drugs." }}

(of a person) A nonconformist, especially in appearance, social behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or business practices; an oddball, especially in physiology (i.e., "circus freak"); unique, sometimes in a displeasing way.

(bodybuilding) A person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development; often a bodybuilder weighing more than 120 kilos (260 pounds).

An enthusiast, or person who has an obsession with, or extreme knowledge of, something.

* {{quote-journal

, year = 1968 , first = Fred , last = Davis , coauthors = Laura Munoz , title = Heads and freaks: patterns and meanings of drug use among hippies , journal = Journal of Health and Social Behavior , volume = 9 , issue = 2 , url = , page = 156-64 , passage = Anyone ... who seems "hung up" on some idea, activity or interactional disposition, might be called a "freak ." }}

* {{quote-journal

, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source) , first = Paul A. , last = Eschholz , title = Freak compounds for "argot freaks" , journal = American Speech , volume = 44 , issue = 4 , url = , page = 306-07 , passage = Presently ... college students ... use freak to denote any kind of enthusiast. }}

Bob's a real video-game freak . He owns every games console of the last ten years.

(informal, sometimes, affectionate) A very sexually perverse individual.

She's a freak in the sack!