van
|van|
B1
/væn/
transport vehicle
Etymology
Etymology Information
'van' originates from the word 'vanguard', which comes from the Old French 'avant-garde', where 'avant' meant 'before' and 'garde' meant 'guard'.
Historical Evolution
'avant-garde' transformed into the English word 'vanguard', and eventually the shortened form 'van' became common in modern English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'the front part of an army', but over time it evolved to also mean a type of vehicle.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of vehicle used for transporting goods or people, typically larger than a car and smaller than a truck.
The delivery van arrived at the warehouse.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42