From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
van
n 1: any creative group active in the innovation and application
of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially
in the arts) [syn: avant-garde, vanguard, van, {new
wave}]
2: the leading units moving at the head of an army [syn:
vanguard, van]
3: (Great Britain) a closed railroad car that carries baggage or
freight
4: a camper equipped with living quarters [syn: van,
caravan]
5: a truck with an enclosed cargo space
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear,
Stream in the air. --Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Van \Van\, n. [Cornish.] (Mining)
A shovel used in cleansing ore.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Van \Van\, v. t. (Mining)
To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.
--Raymond.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Van \Van\, n. [Abbreviated from caravan.]
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1. A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen
and others for the transportation of goods. [Eng.]
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2. A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for
conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition.
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3. A closed railway car for baggage. See the Note under
Car, 2. [Eng.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Van \Van\, n. [L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf.
F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.]
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1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing
grain.
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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.
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He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain.
--Dryden.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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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.
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3. A covered vehicle for carrying passengers or for moving
furniture, etc.; -- sometimes shorted into van.
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From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
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)