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Vent vs Fan - What's the difference?

vent | fan |

In transitive terms the difference between vent and fan

is that vent is to allow to escape through a vent while fan is to slap (a behind, especially).

As nouns the difference between vent and fan

is that vent is an opening through which gases, especially air, can pass while fan is 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.

As verbs the difference between vent and fan

is that vent is to allow gases to escape while fan is to blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.

As a proper noun Fan is

a diminutive of Frances.

As an abbreviation FAN is

file area network.

vent

English

Etymology 1

Partly from (etyl) vent, from (etyl) ventus and party from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • An opening through which gases, especially air, can pass.
    • the vent''' of a cask; the '''vent of a mould
  • A small aperture.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents .
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Long 'twas doubtful, both so closely pent, / Which first should issue from the narrow vent .
  • The opening of a volcano from which lava flows.
  • A verbalized frustration.
  • The excretory opening of lower orders of vertebrates.
  • A slit in the seam of a garment.
  • The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole.
  • In steam boilers, a sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet.
  • Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.
  • Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance.
  • * Milton
    • without the vent of words
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel.
    Derived terms
    * ridge vent

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To allow gases to escape.
    • The stove vents to the outside.
  • To allow to escape through a vent.
    • Exhaust is vented to the outside.
  • (intransitive) To express a strong emotion.
    • He vents his anger violently.
    Can we talk? I need to vent .
  • * 2013 June 18, , " Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):
    • But the demonstrators remained defiant, pouring into the streets by the thousands and venting their anger over political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the World Cup and the Olympics.
  • To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort.
    • (Spenser)

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Ventriloquism.
    • Derived terms
    * vent puppet

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) vente, from (etyl) (lena) .

    Noun

  • sale; opportunity to sell; market
    • (Shelton)
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • There is no vent for any commodity but of wool.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To sell; to vend.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
    • Therefore did those nations vent such spice.

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A baiting place; an inn.
    • ----

    fan

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) . More at (l).

    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.
  • * :
    • 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 .
  • * :
    • 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.
    • Derived terms
    * ceiling fan * cooling fan * desk fan * exhaust fan * extractor fan * fan belt * fan dance * fan death * hit the fan * pedestal fan * wall fan

    Verb

    (fann)
  • To blow air on (something) by means of a fan (hand-held, mechanical or electrical) or otherwise.
    • We enjoyed standing at the edge of the cliff, being fanned by the wind. .
  • * 1865 , (Lewis Carroll), (w, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
    • Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very hot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking.
  • To slap (a behind, especially).
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 148:
  • *
  • To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.
    • Derived terms
    * fanner

    Etymology 2

    Shortened from (fanatic).

    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.

    See also

    * fanne

    Anagrams

    * * ----