wan

/wɔn/

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Explanation of the Word "Wan"

Definition: "Wan" is an adjective that describes someone or something that appears pale, weak, or lacking in color. It can refer to a person's face, which may look pale due to illness, fatigue, or sadness. It can also describe light that is dim or weak.

Usage Instructions:

• As an adjective: Use "wan" to describe a person who looks unwell or a light that is not bright.
• As a noun: In a different context, "WAN" (in capital letters) refers to a "Wide Area Network," which is a type of computer network that covers a large geographic area.
• As a verb: "Wan" can also be used to mean to become pale or sickly.

Examples:

1. Adjective: "After staying up all night studying, she had a wan expression on her face."
2. Adjective: "The wan light of the early morning made the room feel very quiet and lonely."
3. Noun (network): "Our company has a WAN that connects offices in different cities."
4. Verb: "After the long illness, he began to wan and lose his strength."

Advanced Usage:

• Descriptive Literature: "The wan glow of the moon cast eerie shadows on the ground."
• In Medical Context: "The patient's wan complexion indicated a need for medical attention."

Word Variants:

• Noun: "Waning" (to describe the process of becoming weaker or less bright).
• Adverb: "Wanly" (to do something in a pale or weak manner).

Different Meanings:

1. Physical Appearance: Referring to a person’s face when it looks unwell or tired.
2. Light Quality: Referring to light that is dim or lacking in brightness.
3. Networking: A term used in technology to describe a type of network that spans larger distances than local networks.

Synonyms:

• For the pale or weak meaning: Pale, pallid, ashen, feeble, sickly, colorless.
• For the dim light meaning: Dull, faint, muted, low.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with "wan," but you might hear phrases like "waning enthusiasm" to describe a decrease in excitement or energy.

Conclusion:

"Wan" is a versatile word that can describe both physical appearance and light quality. It can also refer to a technical term in networking.

Academic

Adjective

1. lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
   • a wan smile
2. abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress
   • the pallid face of the invalid
   • her wan face suddenly flushed
3. (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
   • the pale light of a half moon
   • a pale sun
   • the late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street
   • a pallid sky
   • the pale (or wan) stars
   • the wan light of dawn

Noun

1. a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network

Verb

1. become pale and sickly

Synonyms

• pale
• pallid
• sick
• wide area network
• WAN