fan

/fæn/noun
Elementary
1

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.

2

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

3

The action of fanning; agitation of the air.

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

A section of a tree having a finite number of branches

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing