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pan1 definition

pan (pan)

noun

  1. any of many kinds of containers, usually broad, shallow, without a cover, and made of metal, used for domestic purposes: often in combination a frying pan, saucepan, dishpan
  2. any object or part shaped like a pan; specif.,
    1. ☆ an open container for washing out gold, tin, etc. from gravel or the like, in mining
    2. either receptacle in a pair of scales
    3. a container for heating, evaporating, etc.
  3. the amount a pan will hold
  4. any area suggestive of a pan; esp., a hollow, natural or artificial depression in the ground
  5. a layer of hard soil, impervious to water; hardpan
  6. a small ice floe
  7. the part of a flintlock gun that holds the firing powder
  8. Slang a face

Etymology: ME panne < OE, akin to Ger pfanne, early Gmc loanword < VL panna, prob. < L patina, a pan: see patella

transitive verb panned, panning pan′·ning

  1. to cook in a pan
  2. Informal to criticize unfavorably, as in reviewing to pan a play
  3. Mining
    1. to wash (gravel, etc.) in a pan, as for separating gold
    2. to separate (gold, etc.) from gravel by washing it in a pan

intransitive verb

  1. ☆ to wash gravel in a pan, searching for gold
  2. ☆ to yield gold in this process
pan Idioms

pan out

  1. Mining to yield gold, as gravel, a mine, etc.
  2. Informal to turn out (as specified); transpire; esp., to turn out well; succeed

put on the pan

to criticize severely
pan2 definition

pan (pän)

noun

  1. a leaf of the betel pepper
  2. a substance made of this leaf, betel nut, lime, and spices, used like chewing gum

Etymology: Hindi pān < Sans parṇa, a leaf, feather: see fern

pan3 definition

pan (pan)

transitive verb, intransitive verb panned, panning pan′·ning

to rotate (a camera) horizontally, as to get a panoramic effect or follow a moving object

Etymology: < pan(orama)

noun

  1. the act of panning
  2. a shot that is panned
Pan1 definition

Pan (pan)

noun

Gr. Myth. a god of fields, forests, wild animals, flocks, and shepherds, represented as having the legs (and, sometimes, horns and ears) of a goat: identified with the Roman Faunus

Etymology: L < Gr

Pan2 definition

Pan

Panama
PAN definition

PAN

peroxyacetyl nitrate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
pan Synonyms

pan

n.

pot, vessel, kettle, container, pail, bucket, baking pan, gold pan; see also container, utensil 1.

Kitchen pans include: kettle, stew pan, saucepan, saucepot, stockpot, dutch oven, double boiler, roaster, casserole, cake pan, bread pan, pie pan, muffin tin, springform pan, tart pan, cookie sheet, frying pan or skillet or spider, dishpan, vegetable steamer, wok.


pan

v.

  1. To obtain gold

    wash, shake, agitate, separate, placer, mine, secure, obtain.

  2. *To disparage

    criticize, review unfavorably, jeer at; see censure.

  3. To swing; said of a camera

    sweep, pan to or toward, follow; see move 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pan Usage Examples

Object

  • fry: Simply wok or pan fry for 6 minutes for a tasty meal.

Converse of object

  • fry: Do we go from the frying pan into the fire?

Preposition: on

  • hob: Don't leave pans on the hob when you're not around.

Preposition: over

  • heat: Heat olive oil in heavy frying pan over medium heat.

Adjective modifier

  • non-stick: Method Coat a large non-stick pan with olive oil.

Adjective complement

  • unattended: Leaving a chip pan unattended is just like playing Russian roulette.

Noun used with modifier

  • salt: From medieval times sea water was evaporated in huge salt pans at the mouth of the burn.

Preposition: with

  • lid: Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan with a lid.
pan usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

pan quotes

Ann, Ann! Come! quick as you can! There's a fish that talks In the frying pan.

-de la Mare,Walter

pan quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"pan." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/pan>

APA Style

pan. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/pan

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