- a covered vehicle with no side windows in its back half, usually smaller than a lorry, used for carrying goods or people
- the driver of a white van
- a police van (= for carrying police officers or prisoners)
- A delivery van was almost blocking the narrow street.
- an ice-cream van
- a van driver
- in a van A passenger in the van was fatally injured.
- He usually sleeps in the back of his van.
Extra ExamplesTopics Transport by car or lorrya2- A TV news van was parked at the entrance.
- Each band had a tour van.
- A bomb had been planted in a parked van.
- On election day they drove around town in a van with a loudspeaker on the roof.
- The van's interior was fitted with shelves.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- delivery
- camper
- transit
- …
- drive
- park
- load
- …
- driver
- (North American English) a covered vehicle with side windows, usually smaller than a lorry, that can carry about twelve passengersOxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
- delivery
- camper
- transit
- …
- drive
- park
- load
- …
- driver
- (British English) a closed coach on a train for carrying bags, cases, etc. or mail
- a luggage van
- The gang robbed a mail van, seriously injuring one of the guards.
Word Originnoun early 19th cent.: shortening of caravan.in the van. early 17th cent.: abbreviation of vanguard.
Idioms
See van in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryin the van
- (British English, formal) at the front or in the leading position
- These artists felt themselves in the van of the movement, true pioneers.
Check pronunciation:
van