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 ]
n. [ Abbreviated from caravan. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
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 ]
n. [ L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cornish. ] (Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. vanadate. ] (Chem.) A salt of vanadic acid.
a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium; containing vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the
Vanadic acid (Chem.),
n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in yellowish, brownish, and ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consists of lead vanadate with a small proportion of lead chloride. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower valence as contrasted with the