Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pans, present participle panning, past tense, past participle panned
1. countable noun
A pan is a round metal container with a long handle, which is used for cooking things in, usually on top of a cooker or stove.
Heat the butter and oil in a large pan.
Synonyms: pot, vessel, container, saucepan More Synonyms of pan
2. countable noun
A pan is a shallow metal container used for baking foods.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use baking tray
3. verb [usually passive]
If something such as a film or a book is panned by journalists, they say it is very bad.
[informal]
His first high-budget movie, called 'Brain Donors', was panned by the critics. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: criticize, knock [informal], blast, hammer [British, informal] More Synonyms of pan
4. verb
If you pan a film or television camera or if it pans somewhere, it moves slowly round so that a wide area is filmed.
The camera panned along the line of players. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He panned over the crowd for a few minutes before swivelling back to the right. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A television camera panned the stadium. [VERB noun]
He panned the camera, giving a sense of motion. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: move along or across, follow, track, sweep More Synonyms of pan
5. verb
If someone pansfor gold, they use a shallow metal container to try to find small pieces of gold from a river.
People came westward in the 1800s to pan for gold. [VERB + for]
Every year they panned about a ton and a half of gold. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: sift out, look for, wash, search for More Synonyms of pan
Phrasal verbs:
See pan out
pan-
(pæn-)
prefix
pan- is added to the beginning of adjectives and nouns to form other adjectives and nouns that describe something as being connected with all places or people of a particular kind.
...the World Festival of Pan-African Arts.
The company operates a pan-European wi-fi network.
pan in British English1
(pæn)
noun
1.
a.
a wide metal vessel used in cooking
b.
(in combination)
saucepan
2. Also called: panful
the amount such a vessel will hold
3.
any of various similar vessels used esp in industry, as for boiling liquids
4.
a dish used by prospectors, esp gold prospectors, for separating a valuable mineral from the gravel or earth containing it by washing and agitating
5.
either of the two dishlike receptacles on a balance
6. Also called: lavatory pan British
the bowl of a lavatory
7.
a.
a natural or artificial depression in the ground where salt can be obtained by the evaporation of brine
b.
a natural depression containing water or mud
8. Caribbean
the indented top from an oil drum used as the treble drum in a steel band
9. hardpan, brainpan
10.
a small ice floe
11. a slang word for face (sense 1a)
12.
a small cavity containing priming powder in the locks of old guns
13.
a hard substratum of soil
14. short for pan loaf
verbWord forms: pans, panning or panned
15. (whentr, often foll by off or out)
to wash (gravel) in a pan to separate particles of (valuable minerals) from it
16. (intransitive; often foll byout)
(of gravel) to yield valuable minerals by this process
17. (transitive) informal
to criticize harshly
the critics panned his new play
Word origin
Old English panne; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse panna, Old High German pfanna
pan in British English2
(pæn)
verbWord forms: pans, panning or panned
1.
to move (a film camera) or (of a film camera) to be moved so as to follow a moving object or obtain a panoramic effect
noun
2.
a.
the act of panning
b.
(as modifier)
a pan shot
Word origin
C20: shortened from panoramic
pan in British English3
(pæn) or paan (pɑːn)
noun
1.
the leaf of the betel tree
2.
a preparation of this leaf which is chewed, together with betel nuts and lime, in India and the East Indies
Word origin
C17: from Hindi, from Sanskrit parna feather, wing, leaf
Pan in British English
(pæn)
noun
Greek mythology
the god of fields, woods, shepherds, and flocks, represented as a man with a goat's legs, horns, and ears
▶ Related adjectives: Pandean, Panic
Pan. in British English
abbreviation for
Panama
Panama in British English
(ˌpænəˈmɑː, ˈpænəˌmɑː)
noun
1.
a republic in Central America, occupying the Isthmus of Panama: gained independence from Spain in 1821 and joined Greater Colombia; became independent in 1903, with the immediate area around the canal forming the Canal Zone under US jurisdiction; Panama assumed sovereignty over the Canal Zone in 1979 and full control in 1999. Official language: Spanish; English is also widely spoken. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: balboa. Capital: Panama City. Pop: 4 098 587 (2017 est). Area: 75 650 sq km (29 201 sq miles)
2. Isthmus of Panama
3. Gulf of Panama
pan- in British English
combining form
1.
all or every
panchromatic
2.
including or relating to all parts or members
Pan-African
pantheistic
Word origin
from Greek pan, neuter of pas all
PAN in American English
peroxyacetyl nitrate
Pan in American English1
(pæn)
noun
Greek Mythology
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
Word origin
L < Gr
Pan in American English2
Panama
pan in American English1
(pæn)
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.,
a. US
an open container for washing out gold, tin, etc. from gravel or the like, in mining
b.
either receptacle in a pair of scales
c.
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. US, Slang
a face
verb transitiveWord forms: panned or ˈpanning
9.
to cook in a pan
10. US, Informal
to criticize unfavorably, as in reviewing
to pan a play
11. US, Mining
a.
to wash (gravel, etc.) in a pan, as for separating gold
b.
to separate (gold, etc.) from gravel by washing it in a pan
verb intransitive Mining
12. US
to wash gravel in a pan, searching for gold
13. US
to yield gold in this process
Idioms:
pan out
put on the pan
Word origin
ME panne < OE, akin to Ger pfanne, early Gmc loanword < VL panna, prob. < L patina, a pan: see patella
pan in American English2
(pæn)
Cinema and Television Etc
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: panned or ˈpanning
1.
to rotate (a camera) horizontally, as to get a panoramic effect or follow a moving object
noun
2.
the act of panning
3.
a shot that is panned
Word origin
< panorama
pan in American English3
(pɑn)
noun
1.
a leaf of the betel pepper
2.
a substance made of this leaf, betel nut, lime, and spices, used like chewing gum
Word origin
Hindi pān < Sans parṇa, a leaf, feather: see fern
pan- in American English
(pæn)
1.
all
panchromatic, pantheism
2. [P-]
a.
of, comprising, embracing, or common to all or every
Pan-American
b.
the cooperation, unity, or union of all members of (a specified nationality, race, church, etc.)
Pan-Americanism
3. Medicine
whole, general; of all or many parts
panarteritis
In sense 2, usually followed by a hyphen, as in the following words:
ˌPan-ˈAfrican
ˌPan-ˈArabic
ˌPan-ˌAsiˈatic
ˌPan-ˌEuroˈpean
ˌPan-Isˈlamic
ˌPan-ˈSlavic
Word origin
< Gr pan, neut. of pas, all, every, universal < IE base *eu-, a swelling, arch > L cavus, hollow
More idioms containing
pan
out of the frying pan into the fire
a flash in the pan
Examples of 'pan' in a sentence
pan
Apart from the young constable, whose radio was crackling like an egg in a hot frying pan, the front hall was empty.
Val McDermid DEAD BEAT (2002)
I wasn't sure whether the pan was the one with which he had made the first find.
Innes, Hammond HIGH STAND (2002)
It was pan of the Navy which Kelly had rarely seen, the Big Blue Team at work, commanding the ocean.
Clancy, Tom WITHOUT REMORSE (2002)
Word lists with
pan
Greek
In other languages
pan
British English: pan /pæn/ NOUN
A pan is a round metal container with a handle, which is used for cooking things, usually on top of a cooker.
Heat the butter and oil in a large pan.
American English: pan
Arabic: طُنْجَرَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: panela
Chinese: 平底锅
Croatian: tava
Czech: kastrol
Danish: pande til madlavning
Dutch: pan
European Spanish: olla
Finnish: pannu
French: poêle ustensile
German: Pfanne
Greek: τηγάνι
Italian: padella
Japanese: 平なべ
Korean: 팬 요리
Norwegian: panne kasserolle
Polish: rondel
European Portuguese: frigideira
Romanian: tigaie
Russian: сковорода
Latin American Spanish: olla
Swedish: panna
Thai: กระทะ
Turkish: tava
Ukrainian: каструля
Vietnamese: chảo
British English: pan VERB
If something such as a film or a book is panned by journalists, they say it is very bad.
His first high-budget movie was panned by the critics.
American English: pan
Brazilian Portuguese: arrasar com
Chinese: 批评
European Spanish: criticar
French: éreinter
German: verreißen
Italian: silurare
Japanese: こき下ろす
Korean: 혹평을 하다
European Portuguese: arrasar com
Latin American Spanish: criticar
Chinese translation of 'pan'
pan
(pæn)
n(c)
(also saucepan) 炖(燉)锅(鍋) (dùnguō) (口, kǒu)
(US, for baking) 平底锅(鍋) (píngdǐguō) (口, kǒu)
vi
(Cine, TV) 摇(搖)镜(鏡)头(頭) (yáo jìngtóu)
vt
(inf)[book, film]严(嚴)厉(厲)批评(評) (yánlì pīpíng)
to pan for gold淘金 (táojīn)
All related terms of 'pan'
board
[ c ] ( piece of wood ) 木板 mùbǎn [ 块(塊) kuài ]
dish
( piece of crockery : for serving ) 盘(盤) pán [ 个(個) gè ] (: for eating ) 碟 dié [ 个(個) gè ]
reel
( of thread, cable, film, tape ) 卷(捲)轴(軸) juànzhóu
frying pan
平底煎锅(鍋) píngdǐ jiānguō [ 个(個) gè ]
to pan for gold
淘金 táojīn
debris
( rubble ) 碎片 suìpiàn
to
( direction ) 到 dào
to sentence sb to death
判某人死刑 pàn mǒurén sǐxíng
probation
( for criminal ) 缓(緩)刑 huǎnxíng
to put sb on probation
( criminal ) 判某人缓(緩)刑 pàn mǒurén huǎnxíng
a plate of cakes/biscuits
一盘(盤)蛋糕/饼(餅)干(乾) yī pán dàngāo/bǐnggān
plate
[ c ] ( dish ) 碟 dié [ 个(個) gè ] ( for serving ) 托(託)盘(盤) tuōpán [ 个(個) gè ]
in jail
在监(監)狱(獄) zài jiānyù ⇒ He was sentenced to two years in jail. → 他被判两年监禁。 Tā bèi pàn liǎng nián jiānjìn.
[ c/u ] ( living, existence ) 生命 shēngmìng [ 个(個) gè ] ⇒ her last hours of life → 她生命的最后时刻 tā shēngmìng de zuìhòu shíkè
other
( additional ) 另外的 lìngwài de ⇒ May I make one other point? → 我能再另外讲一点吗？ Wǒ néng zài lìngwài jiǎng yīdiǎn ma?
just
( frm : fair : decision, punishment, reward ) 公平的 gōngpíng de ⇒ Was Pollard's life sentence just or was it too severe? → 判波拉德无期徒刑公平呢，还是太重了？ Pàn Bōlādé wúqī túxíng gōngpíng ne, háishì tài zhòng le? ( society, cause ) 公正的 gōngzhèng de ⇒ a just and civilized society → 一个公正文明的社会 yī gè gōngzhèng wénmíng de shèhuì
(noun)
Definition
a wide long-handled metal container used in cooking
Heat the butter in a large pan.
Synonyms
pot
metal cooking pots
Use a large terracotta pot or a wooden tub.
vessel
plastic storage vessels
container
The paint is supplied in a clear, plastic container.
saucepan
1 (verb)
Definition
to criticize harshly
(informal)
His first movie was panned by the critics.
Synonyms
criticize
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
knock (informal)
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
blast
They have blasted the report.
hammer (British, informal)
The report hammers the private motorist.
slam (slang)
The director slammed the claims as an outrageous lie.
flame (informal)
rubbish (informal)
devoted to rubbishing her political opponents
roast (informal)
She was roasted by the critics.
put down
slate (informal)
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
censure
I would not presume to censure him for his views.
slag (off) (slang)
tear into (informal)
flay
The critics flayed him with accusations of misanthropy.
diss (slang)
lambast(e)
throw brickbats at (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to sift gold from (a river) in a shallow pan
People came westward in the 1800s to pan for gold in Sierra Nevada.
Synonyms
sift out
look for
wash
search for
phrasal verb
See pan out
(verb)
Definition
to move (a film camera) or (of a film camera) to be moved to follow a moving object or to take in a whole scene
A television camera panned the crowd.
Synonyms
move along or across
follow
I think we're being followed.
track
He thought he had better track this creature and kill it.
sweep
Her gaze sweeps rapidly around the room.
scan
The officer scanned the room.
traverse
swing across
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blast
Definition
to criticize severely
They have blasted the report.
Synonyms
criticize,
attack,
put down,
censure,
berate,
castigate,
tear into (informal),
flay,
rail at,
flame (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
throw shade (at) (slang)
in the sense of censure
Definition
to criticize (someone or something) severely
I would not presume to censure him for his views.
Synonyms
criticize,
blame,
abuse,
condemn,
carpet (informal),
flame (informal),
denounce,
put down,
slate (informal),
rebuke,
reprimand,
reproach,
scold,
berate,
castigate,
chide,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
blast,
read the riot act,
reprove,
upbraid,
slap on the wrist,
damn,
lambast(e),
bawl out (informal),
excoriate,
rap over the knuckles,
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
tear (someone) off a strip (British, informal),
give (someone) a rocket (British, New Zealand, informal),
reprehend
in the sense of container
Definition
an object used to hold or store things in
The paint is supplied in a clear, plastic container.
Synonyms
holder,
vessel,
repository,
receptacle
Synonyms of 'pan'
pan
Explore 'pan' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flay
Definition
to criticize severely
The critics flayed him with accusations of misanthropy.
Synonyms
upbraid,
slam (slang),
castigate,
revile,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
excoriate,
tear a strip off,
execrate,
pull to pieces (informal),
give a tongue-lashing,
criticize severely,
flame (informal)
in the sense of follow
Definition
to go or come after
I think we're being followed.
Synonyms
pursue,
track,
dog,
hunt,
chase,
shadow,
tail (informal),
trail,
hound,
stalk,
run after
in the sense of hammer
Definition
to criticize severely
The report hammers the private motorist.
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
censure,
rebuke,
reprimand,
berate,
castigate,
admonish,
chastise,
pillory,
lambaste,
slate (informal)
in the sense of knock
Definition
to criticize adversely
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
put down,
run down,
abuse,
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
slate (informal),
have a go (at) (informal),
censure,
slag (off) (slang),
denigrate,
belittle,
disparage,
deprecate,
diss (slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
find fault with,
carp at,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
cast aspersions on,
cavil at,
pick to pieces,
give (someone or something) a bad press,
nit-pick (informal)
in the sense of roast
Definition
to criticize severely
She was roasted by the critics.
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
censure,
disparage,
knock (informal),
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
carp,
put down,
slate (informal),
have a go (at) (informal),
disapprove of,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
find fault with,
nag at,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
excoriate (literary),
pick to pieces,
give (someone or something) a bad press,
animadvert on or upon,
pass strictures upon
in the sense of rubbish
Definition
to criticize
devoted to rubbishing her political opponents
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
censure,
disparage,
knock (informal),
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
put down,
slate (informal),
have a go at (informal),
disapprove of,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
find fault with,
nag at,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
excoriate (literary),
pick to pieces,
give (someone or something) a bad press,
animadvert on or upon,
pass strictures upon
in the sense of scan
Definition
to scrutinize carefully
The officer scanned the room.
Synonyms
survey,
search,
investigate,
sweep,
con (archaic),
scour,
scrutinize,
take stock of,
recce (slang)
in the sense of slam
Definition
to criticize harshly
The director slammed the claims as an outrageous lie.
Synonyms
criticize,
attack,
blast,
pan (informal),
damn,
slate (informal),
shoot down (informal),
castigate,
vilify,
pillory,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
excoriate (literary)
in the sense of slate
Definition
to criticize harshly
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
Synonyms
criticize,
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
blame,
roast (informal),
censure,
rebuke,
slang,
scold,
berate,
castigate,
rail against,
tear into (informal),
lay into (informal),
pitch into (informal),
take to task,
lambast(e),
flame (informal),
excoriate,
haul over the coals (informal),
tear (someone) off a strip (informal),
rap (someone's) knuckles
in the sense of sweep
Definition
to direct (one's eyes, line of fire, etc.) over (a place or target)
Her gaze sweeps rapidly around the room.
Synonyms
scan,
run over,
skim,
eye,
check,
examine,
eyeball (slang),
glance over,
run your eye over
Additional synonyms
in the sense of track
Definition
to follow the trail of (a person or animal)
He thought he had better track this creature and kill it.