fan (1) — OAT

fan1

noun

his living room had a couple of ceiling fans:

air cooler, air conditioner, ventilator, blower, aerator;

Indian punkah.

verb

1 she lifted a hand to fan her hot cheeks:

cool, air, aerate, blow, ventilate;

freshen, refresh.

2 the article fanned the public's fear of nuclear radiation:

intensify, increase, agitate, inflame, exacerbate;

stimulate, stir up, work up, whip up, incite, fuel, animate;

ignite, kindle, trigger, spark, instigate, arouse, excite, provoke, foment.

3 the police squad fanned out with their weapons at the ready:

spread, open, branch, stretch;

outspread, unfurl, unfold.

□ fan the flames of

instead of being a calming force you fanned the flames of hostility:

stir up, whip up, encourage, incite, stoke up, fuel, kindle, ignite, inflame, stimulate, instigate, provoke, excite, arouse, awaken, waken, inspire, trigger, spark off, ferment, foment;

literary enkindle.