van
pronunciation
How to pronounce van in British English:
UK [væn]
How to pronounce van in American English:
US [væn]
-
- Noun:
- any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
- the leading units moving at the head of an army
- a camper equipped with living quarters
- a truck with an enclosed cargo space
Word Origin
- van
- van: see caravan
- van (n.1)
- "front part of an army or other advancing group," c. 1600, shortening of vanguard.
- van (n.2)
- "covered truck or wagon," 1829, shortening of caravan. Century Dictionary suggests this was perhaps regarded as *carry-van.
Example
- 1. When the engineer returned alive , van cotthem was convinced .
- 2. Mr van leeuwen says other interested parties include online brokerage firms .
- 3. Police carried him to a van , leaving his wheelchair on the road .
- 4. The blast blew him out of the van .
- 5. When the van stopped near some other rebel vehicles , we climbed out .