van Meaning & Definition
What Does Van Mean?
Van is used as a symbol meaning ISO 639-3 language code for Valman. As a noun, it means A covered motor vehicle used to carry goods or (normally less than ten) persons, usually roughly cuboid in shape, Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and longer and higher than a car but relatively smaller than a truck/lorry or a bus. As a verb, it means To transport in a van or similar vehicle (especially of horses).
Van in Brief
| Part of speech | symbol, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /væn/ |
| Synonyms | vanguard, caravan and avant garde |
| Antonyms | rearguard |
| Plural | vans |
| Verb forms | vans, vanning, vanned |
Van Definition (Symbol)
- ISO 639-3 language code for Valman.
Van as a Noun
- A covered motor vehicle used to carry goods or (normally less than ten) persons, usually roughly cuboid in shape, Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and longer and higher than a car but relatively smaller than a truck/lorry or a bus.
- An enclosed railway vehicle for transport of goods, such as a boxcar/box van.
- A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods.
- A large towable vehicle equipped for the repair of structures that cannot easily be moved.
Van as a Verb
- To transport in a van or similar vehicle (especially of horses).
- Of law enforcement: to arrest (not necessarily in a van; derived from party van).
Noun
- Clipping of vanguard.
Noun
- A shovel used in cleansing ore.
Verb
- To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.
Noun
- A fan or other contrivance, such as a sieve, for winnowing grain.
- A wing with which the air is beaten.
Noun
- A covered vehicle used for carrying goods or people, usually roughly cuboid in shape, longer and higher than a car but smaller than a truck/lorry.
The van sped down the road.
- An enclosed railway vehicle for transport of goods.
Verb
- (used in passive voice) Of law enforcement: to arrest (not necessarily in a van; derived from party van).
Noun
- The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
- (by extension) The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement.
Synonyms of Van
Van synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Van
Van in a Sentence
The van sped down the road.
Word Forms & Grammar
van (plural vans)
van (third-person singular simple present vans, present participle vanning, simple past and past participle vanned)
Words That Rhyme With Van
Origin of Van
Origin 1: Short for caravan.
Origin 2: Shortening of vanguard.
Origin 3: From Cornish.
Origin 4: From Latin vannus (“a van, or fan for winnowing grain”): compare French van and English fan, winnow. Doublet of fan.
Common Questions About Van
Is van a symbol or a noun?
Van is mainly used as a symbol, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for van?
Close synonyms of van are vanguard, caravan and avant garde. See the full list of van synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of van?
The opposite of van is rearguard.
What is the plural of van?
The plural of van is vans.
What is the past tense of van?
The past tense of van is vanned. The present participle is vanning.