fanning

FAN-ing/ˈfænɪŋ/

Noun pluralfannings

4 meanings of fanning

1
verb
Present participle and gerund of fan. Use this form when the action of fanning is ongoing or named.
He was fanning himself with his hat in the heat.
Fanning the fire made the flames grow bigger.
Note
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A movement of air toward something, made with a fan or a waving hand to cool it or stir it.
Like waving a magazine near your face to feel cooler.
A quick fanning of the coals got the grill going.
The fanning of her hand barely stirred the warm air.
Similarwaving, wafting, ventilation
Note
3
nouncountable
A tiny piece of broken tea leaf, smaller than the usual bits in a packet.
Like the small crumbs left at the bottom of a cereal box.
A single fanning is no bigger than a crumb.
The cheaper blends are full of tiny fannings.
Note

Less common meaning

4
nounarchaicUK
A beating or thrashing given to someone.
Like getting a spanking for breaking the rules.
He got a real fanning for breaking the window.
The thief was promised a fanning if he ever came back.
Note

fanning is a form of fan

fan, verb: To push air toward something or move smoke away by waving something or using a fan. Full entry

Forms: fanfans he/she/itfanning -ing formfanned past tense, past participle
Spelling: fan → fanning: double the n, add -ing

Practice

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