fan out
To go out in many directions from one place, like soldiers searching a field.
Meanings
Of a group of people: to spread out from a central point in different directions.
"The rescue team fanned out across the hillside to search for the missing hiker."
To arrange flat objects (such as cards or papers) in an overlapping arc.
"He fanned out the playing cards so everyone could choose one."
Of a shape or structure: to widen gradually outward from a narrow point.
"The river delta fans out into dozens of smaller channels before reaching the sea."
Common in military, sports, and search-and-rescue contexts. Also used for physical objects like cards or feathers arranged in a spread.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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