fan out

fan out (third-person singular simple present fans out, present participle fanning out, simple past and past participle fanned out)

1. (transitive, intransitive, also figurative) To spread out into the shape of a fan.
   • 1963 June, “News and Comment: Sheffield scheme progress”, in Modern Railways, page 368:

     West of the summit the cutting fans out at the entrance to the new yard on the north side.

   • 2023 March 8, Chris Howe, “Building the platform for Old Oak Common's platforms”, in RAIL, number 978, page 60:

     Although the platforms for the station will be 450 metres, the full length of the 850-metre box is to allow the tracks to fan out and switches to be installed, so that the trains can reach each of the six platforms.

• Tufano