vans

/V AE1 N Z/
noun
  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    An enclosed railway vehicle for transport of goods.

  3. 3

    A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others for the transportation of goods.

  4. 4

    A large towable vehicle equipped for the repair of structures that cannot easily be moved.

verb
  1. 1

    To transport in a van or similar vehicle (especially of horses).

  2. 2

    (used in passive voice) Of law enforcement: to arrest (not necessarily in a van; derived from party van).

noun
  1. 1

    A shovel used in cleansing ore.

verb
  1. 1

    To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel.

noun
  1. 1

    A fan or other contrivance, such as a sieve, for winnowing grain.

  2. 2

    A wing with which the air is beaten.

noun
  1. 1

    The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.

  2. 2

    (by extension) The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/van, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vanguard, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vans