van

Pluralvans

Formsvans, vanning, vanned

1. 1
   motor vehiclenouncountable

   A covered road vehicle with a box shape, used to carry goods or a small group of people.

   Like a big metal box on wheels that can hold people or things.

   Dad loaded our camping gear into the van before the trip.

   A delivery van stopped outside and the driver carried boxes to our door.

   UsageSay in the van, as with a car.

   Similarminivan, minibus

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A big truck with a closed box on the back, or a closed trailer, used to carry goods or furniture.

   We rented a moving van to take our things to the new apartment.

   The big van outside was packed with everything from the house, even the piano.

   Similartruck, trailer, lorry

3. 3
   railway wagonnounBritishcountable

   In Britain, a closed rail car that carries goods, or passengers' bags and parcels.

   Railway workers coupled an empty goods van to the back of the train.

   The last van on the goods train carried sacks of mail.

   Similarwagon, boxcar

   Note
4. 4
   transportverbtransitive

   To move people, animals or goods from place to place in a van.

   We will van the ponies to the county fair tomorrow.

   She vans her horse to the show grounds every Saturday.

   UsageWrite vanned and vanning with two n's.

   Similarship, transport, truck

   Note
5. 5
   front (army)nounabbreviationclipping

   Short form of vanguard. Use it for the front part of an army or a group that leads the way.

   The van of the army reached the bridge before noon.

   Scouts rode in the van, far ahead of the wagons.

   UsageMost often in in the van of something.

   Note
6. 6
   arrestverbslangtransitive

   To arrest someone and take them away.

   He deleted his posts because he was afraid of getting vanned.

   He stopped posting online after his friend got vanned for hacking a website.

   UsagePeople usually say get vanned.

   Similararrest, detain, nab, bust

   Oppositerelease

   Note

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