fan

fan out

verb

Definition of FAN

1

to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <the accordionist smoothly fanned out the bellows of his instrument as he played>

Synonyms expand, extend, fan (out), flare (out), outspread, outstretch, spread (out), stretch (out), unfold, unfurl

Related Words overspread

Near Antonyms compact, compress, condense, reduce

Antonyms close, contract, fold

2

to extend outwards from or as if from a central point <most of the city's subway lines fan out from this central station>

Synonyms branch, fan (out), ray

Related Words diffuse, dispel, disperse, dissipate; fork, stem; diverge, divide, part, ramify, separate, split, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; scatter, splay, spread; arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, proceed, spring

Near Antonyms approach, close in (on), near; center (on), centralize; connect, couple, join, link, unite

Antonyms concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet