pan

1 of 9

noun (1)

1
a
: a usually broad, shallow, and open container for domestic use (as for cooking)
b
: any of various similar usually metal receptacles: such as
(1)
: the hollow part of the lock in a firelock or flintlock gun that receives the priming
(2)
: either of the receptacles in a pair of scales
(3)
: a round shallow usually metal container for separating metal (such as gold) from waste by washing
c
British : toilet sense 1a
also : bowl sense 3b
2
a(1)
: a natural basin or depression in land
(2)
: a similar artificial basin (as for evaporating brine)
b
: a drifting fragment of the flat thin ice that forms in bays or along the shore
3
4
slang : face
5
: a harsh criticism

pan

2 of 9

verb (1)

panned; panning

transitive verb

1
a
: to wash in a pan for the purpose of separating heavy particles
b
: to separate (a substance, such as gold) by panning
c
: to place in a pan
2
: to criticize severely
the show was panned

intransitive verb

1
: to wash material (such as earth or gravel) in a pan in search of metal (such as gold)
2
: to yield precious metal in the process of panning
usually used with out

pan

3 of 9

noun (2)

1
: a betel leaf
2
: a masticatory of betel nut, mineral lime, and pan

pan

4 of 9

noun (3)

1
: the process of panning a motion-picture or video camera
2
: a shot in which the camera is panned

pan

5 of 9

verb (2)

panned; panning

transitive verb

: to rotate (a camera, such as a motion-picture camera) so as to keep an object in the picture or secure a panoramic effect

intransitive verb

1
: to pan a motion-picture or video camera
2
of a camera : to undergo panning

Pan

6 of 9

noun (4)

: a Greek god of pastures, flocks, and shepherds usually represented as having the legs, horns, and ears of a goat
Pan is often depicted playing a panpipe.

Pan

7 of 9

abbreviation (1)

Panama

PAN

8 of 9

abbreviation (2)

peroxyacetyl nitrate

pan-

9 of 9

combining form

1
: all : completely
panchromatic
2
a
: involving all of a (specified) group or region
Pan-American
b
: advocating or involving the union of a (specified) group
Pan-Slavism
3
: whole : general
panleukopenia

Examples of pan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Coat an oven-safe pan with cooking oil on high heat and sear collars skin-side down until browned and crisp. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Specialty pans can be fun and tempting, but home bakers can tackle most recipes with only a few types of basic baking pans. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2024 In the 13-second clip, Alba, Sawyer and Teigen are all shown before the camera pans to floral arrangements on a table and a menu that boasts a pasta first course as well as several items for a second course, including branzino al forno. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Cascio walked past a tiny machine for making gingersnaps and a small burglar-proof safe, before stopping in front of a tin evaporating pan, accessorized with rotating brass blades and powered by a wooden wheel. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 Using a slotted spoon, remove the mixture from the pan, leaving the fat in the pan. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024 If turkeys encroach into your space, scare them off by making a lot of noise, waving your hands, banging pots and pans, or squirting the birds with a garden hose. Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2024 The company includes seven metal accessories, from utensils to pots and pans, which our kids had a blast using to make pretend lunches and dinners. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024 Transfer the mushrooms to bowl, along with any liquid from the pan. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
The camera quickly panned to the three-time nominee, who has been open about his previous struggles with drug addiction. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 But opponents have panned the proposal as moving the state backward by further encouraging our reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels. Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 The camera proceeded to pan to Powell sitting in the audience, but the actress clarified her fiancé was actually backstage. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024 Anker’s Eufy brand has started shipping a new 4K security camera that should offer 360-degree views, panning 344 degrees and tilting up to 70 degrees. Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2024 The camera then pans down to the water where the hooked cobia rolls to the surface as one of the other anglers lowers his bridge net. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 28 Feb. 2024 In a statement to The Times late Monday, the former sheriff — who is running for a spot on the county Board of Supervisors — panned the report and, specifically, Huntsman. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The camera even panned to Taylor Swift singing along. Audrey Gibbs, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 When the camera panned to his superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, fans noticed a less-than-enthused look on her face. Maggie O'Neill, Health, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English panne, from Old English (akin to Old High German phanna pan), from Latin patina, from Greek patanē

Noun (2)

Hindi & Urdu pān, from Sanskrit parṇa wing, leaf — more at fern

Noun (3)

short for panorama

Noun (4)

Latin, from Greek

Combining form

Greek, from pan, neuter of pant-, pas all, every; akin to Tocharian B pont- all

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1832, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1913, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (4)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pan was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pan

Cite this Entry

“Pan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pan

1 of 3 noun
1
a
: a usually broad, shallow, and open container for cooking
b
: something resembling a pan
2
: a basin or depression in the earth
a salt pan

pan

2 of 3 verb
panned; panning
1
: to wash earthy material in a pan to concentrate bits of metal
pan for gold
2
: to yield precious metal in panning
3
: to criticize severely

pan

3 of 3 verb
panned; panning
: to move a motion-picture or television camera so as to keep a moving object in view or to scan a scene
Etymology

Noun

Old English panne "pan for cooking," derived from Latin patina (same meaning)

Verb

from earlier pan "the process of panning," short for panorama

Medical Definition

Pan

1 of 2 noun
: a genus of anthropoid apes containing the chimpanzee

PAN

2 of 2 abbreviation
peroxyacetyl nitrate

More from Merriam-Webster on pan

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