Fanned

Fanned is the past tense and past participle of the verb fan. It has several related senses centered on movement, spread, or intensification.

In the sense of producing air, to fan means to move air by waving a hand, a handheld or mechanical device, or other object. This use describes cooling, ventilation, or drying, as in fanning oneself, fanning a flame, or fanning a breeze from a device.

In a spatial sense, to fan also means to spread out or form a shape resembling a handheld fan. Examples include leaves or feathers arranged in a broad, radiating pattern, or cards held and displayed in a fanned arrangement.

Fanning can also describe increasing or rekindling activity or emotions. Phrases such as “to fan the flames” or “to fan interest” denote intensifying a situation, often by stirring up attention, passion, or controversy.

As a descriptive modifier, fanned can refer to patterns or layouts that resemble a fan, such as fanned branches, fanned-out syllabi, or fanned towers in architectural design. It is also used in everyday speech to describe a gesture or arrangement that appears spread or radiating from a central point.

See also: fan, fanning, fanned out, fanless, fan pattern.