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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
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
5 : a harsh criticism
pan
verb (1)panned; panning
Definition of pan (Entry 2 of 9)
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
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)Definition of pan (Entry 3 of 9)
1 : a betel leaf
2 : a masticatory of betel nut, mineral lime, and pan
pan
noun (3)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)panned; panning
Definition of pan (Entry 5 of 9)
: to rotate (a camera, such as a motion-picture camera) so as to keep an object in the picture or secure a panoramic effect
Pan
noun (4)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 formDefinition 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
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Time Traveler for pan
The first known use of pan was before the 12th century
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