SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus

pan

noun (1)
Save Word
\ ˈpan How to pronounce pan (audio) \

Definition of pan

 (Entry 1 of 9)

1a : 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
d : steel drum
2a(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 : hardpan sense 1
4 slang : face
5 : a harsh criticism

pan

verb (1)
panned; panning

Definition of pan (Entry 2 of 9)

transitive verb

1a : 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

noun (2)
\ ˈpän How to pronounce pan (audio) \

Definition of pan (Entry 3 of 9)

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

pan

noun (3)
\ ˈpan How to pronounce pan (audio) \

Definition of pan (Entry 4 of 9)

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

pan

verb (2)
\ ˈpan How to pronounce pan (audio) \
panned; panning

Definition of pan (Entry 5 of 9)

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

noun (4)
\ ˈpan How to pronounce Pan (audio) \

Definition of Pan (Entry 6 of 9)

: 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

abbreviation (1)

Definition of Pan (Entry 7 of 9)

Panama

PAN

abbreviation (2)

Definition of PAN (Entry 8 of 9)

peroxyacetyl nitrate

pan-

combining form

Definition of pan- (Entry 9 of 9)

1 : all : completely panchromatic
2a : 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

First Known Use of pan

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

History and Etymology for pan

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

Buying Guide

Our Reviews team has selected the best electric ranges.

Learn More About pan

Time Traveler for pan

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near pan

Pamunkey

pan

Pan

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for pan

Cite this Entry

“Pan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan. Accessed 20 May. 2022.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

More Definitions for pan

pan

noun
\ ˈpan How to pronounce pan (audio) \

Kids Definition of pan

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a usually shallow open container used for cooking
2 : a shallow open tray or container Put the gold on the pan and we'll weigh it.

pan

verb
panned; panning

Kids Definition of pan (Entry 2 of 2)

: to wash earthy material so as to collect bits of metal (as gold)
pan out
: to give a good result : succeed

Pan

noun
\ ˈpan How to pronounce Pan (audio) \

Medical Definition of Pan

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a genus of anthropoid apes containing the chimpanzee

PAN

abbreviation

Medical Definition of PAN (Entry 2 of 2)

peroxyacetyl nitrate

More from Merriam-Webster on pan

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pan

Nglish: Translation of pan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of pan for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pan

WORD OF THE DAY

ad hoc

Listen to the pronunciation of ad hoc

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Which Word Does Not Belong?

  • one green toy robot amidst many red toy robots
  • Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games