different between enthusiast vs railfan

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ???????????? (enthousiast?s, “an enthusiast, a zealot”), from ???????????? (enthousiázein, “(intransitive) be inspired or possessed by a god, be rapt, be in ecstasy, (transitive) inspire”): see enthusiasm.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /?n???u?.zi??st/, /-?u?-/, /-æst/
• (Received Pronunciation, Ireland) IPA^(key): /?n???u.zi?æst/, /-???-/, /-?st/
• (General Australian, General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /??n????.zi??st/, /en-/, /-?ï?-/, /-æst/

Noun

enthusiast (plural enthusiasts)

1. A person filled with or guided by enthusiasm.

   Synonyms: addict, aficionado, amateur, fancier, fan, fanatic, fiend, freak, geek, junkie, rooter, maniac, partisan, (computing) power user, (marketing) prosumer, zealot

2. (archaic) A person exhibiting over-zealous religious fervour.

Related terms

Translations

See also

• -phile

Further reading

• enthusiast in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• enthusiast in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Tushetians, sustaineth

English

Etymology

From rail +? fan

Noun

railfan (plural railfans)

1. (US) A railway enthusiast.

Synonyms

• ferroequinologist, gunzel (Australia), railbuff, trainiac (informal), trainspotter

Derived terms

• railfanning