fan

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a machine or hand-held object that moves air to make you feel cool.

n. an electrical or mechanical device, or a hand-held implement, used to circulate air for cooling purposes.

“It was so hot in the office that we had to turn on the electric fan.”

“The ceiling fan hummed quietly in the background, providing a necessary breeze during the humid summer afternoon.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to move or spread out from one point into a wide shape.

v. to spread out from a central point so as to resemble the shape of an open hand-held fan.

“The soldiers began to fan out across the field to search for the missing keys.”

“The delta allows the river to fan out into several smaller channels before reaching the sea.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to move air toward something using a fan or your hand.

v. to direct a current of air toward something, often to cool it or to encourage a fire to burn.

“He used a piece of cardboard to fan the campfire until the flames grew.”

“The chef continued to fan the hot coals, carefully maintaining the temperature required for the traditional roasting process.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. something that has the shape of an open triangle or a bird's tail.

n. an object or part of an object that spreads out in a sector-like geometric shape.

“The peacock opened its tail into a beautiful green and blue fan.”

“The geologist pointed out the alluvial fan where the mountain stream had deposited sediment onto the flat plain.”