van

Noun

Synonyms: avant-garde vanguard new wave caravan

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)Synonyms: avant-garde vanguard new wave
the leading units moving at the head of an armySynonyms: vanguard
(Great Britain) a closed railroad car that carries baggage or freight
a camper equipped with living quartersSynonyms: caravan
a truck with an enclosed cargo space

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Van \Van\, n. [L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.] [1913 Webster]

1.A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain. [1913 Webster]

2.[OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L. vannus. See Etymology above.] A wing with which the air is beaten. [Archaic] "[/Angels] on their plumy vans received him. " --Milton. [1913 Webster]

He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain; His vans no longer could his flight sustain.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

Van \Van\, n. [Abbrev. fr. vanguard.] The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle. [1913 Webster]

Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear, Stream in the air. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Van \Van\, n. [Cornish.] (Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore. [1913 Webster]

Van \Van\, v. t. (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]

Van \Van\, n. [Abbreviated from caravan.] [1913 Webster]

1.A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

2.A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition. [1913 Webster]

3.A closed railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

Van \Van\, v. t. [Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing machine.] To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Caravan \Car"a*van\ (k[a^]r"[.a]*v[a^]n or k[a^]r*[.a]*v[a^]n"; 277), n. [F. caravane (cf. Sp. caravana), fr. Per. karw[=a]n a caravan (in sense 1). Cf. Van a wagon.]

1.A company of travelers, pilgrims, or merchants, organized and equipped for a long journey, or marching or traveling together, esp. through deserts and countries infested by robbers or hostile tribes, as in Asia or Africa. [1913 Webster]

2.A large, covered wagon, or a train of such wagons, for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition; an itinerant show, as of wild beasts. [1913 Webster]

3.A covered vehicle for carrying passengers or for moving furniture, etc.; -- sometimes shorted into van. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

Value Added Network VAN

<networking> (VAN) A privately owned network that provides a specific service, such as legal research or access to a specialised database, for a fee. A Value Added Network usually offers some service or information that is not readily available on public networks.

A Value Added Network's customers typically purchase leased lines that connect them to the network or they use a dial-up number, given by the network owner, to gain access to the network.

(1998-11-10)