Meaning & use
exhaust fan
Last updated
UK/ɪɡˈzɔːst fæn/
US/ɪɡˈzɔst fæn/
Meaning
nouncountable
a fan fitted in a wall, window or ceiling that pulls stale air, steam, smoke or smells out of a room.
Grammar: Countable: install an exhaust fan, two exhaust fans.
Patterns
- an exhaust fan in something
- turn on the exhaust fan
Please turn on the exhaust fan when you take a hot shower.
The kitchen exhaust fan is loud but it clears the smoke quickly.
We installed an exhaust fan in the bathroom to stop mold.
Word forms
| plural | exhaust fans |
|---|
Common combinations
- bathroom exhaust fan
- The bathroom exhaust fan removes steam after showers.
- kitchen exhaust fan
- A kitchen exhaust fan helps remove cooking odors.
- install an exhaust fan
- They installed an exhaust fan above the stove.
- turn on the exhaust fan
- Turn on the exhaust fan before you start frying fish.
- exhaust fan noise
- The exhaust fan noise made it hard to talk.
Synonyms and how they differ
- extractor fan
- Extractor fan is the common British term, whereas exhaust fan is the usual American phrase.
- ventilator
- A ventilator is a wider term for any device that moves air, while an exhaust fan only pulls it outward.
- vent fan
- Vent fan is an informal short form used in the home improvement trade.
Word family
Commonly confused: exhaust fan or ceiling fan?
exhaust fan vs ceiling fan
A ceiling fan circulates air inside the room, but an exhaust fan removes air to the outside.
Practice
Why do many bathrooms have an exhaust fan?
Choose one answer.
An exhaust fan pulls steam and damp air out. It does not heat water or give light.
Make it your own
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