pane

noun

ˈpān 

: a piece, section, or side of something: such as

a

: a framed sheet of glass in a window or door

frost on a window pane

b

: one of the sections into which a sheet of postage stamps is cut for distribution

paned

ˈpānd 

adjective

paneless

ˈpān-ləs 

adjective

Examples of pane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Generous panes of glass disappears, allowing the interior to spill outdoors without fuss. —Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

One set of graves is encased behind a pane of transparent acrylic, providing a window for scientists to observe the pigs’ decomposition in real time. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 July 2025

Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Given the stakes, extreme measures have been taken to avoid eavesdropping, not just sweeping the Sistine Chapel for bugs but shuttering its windows to prevent scanners from detecting vibrations of the cardinals’ words on the panes. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2025

Both the library and the living room are at the front of the house and offer floor to ceiling double doors with glass panes that access the front porch. —James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pane, pan, payne, peyne "panel of an ornamental hanging or a curtain, side of a building, section of a wall, windowpane," borrowed from Anglo-French pan, pane "piece of cloth, tail of a shirt, skirt of a coat, parcel, stretch, territory" (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Latin pannus "piece of cloth, rag" — more at vane

Note: Homonymous with Middle English pane in these senses is pane "cloak, mantle, fur lining or trim of a garment, rich fur or fabric," borrowed from Anglo-French and Old French penne, panne in these senses. Middle English Dictionary groups these with all the other senses of panne, but the Oxford English Dictionary and Anglo-Norman Dictionary treat them separately, as descended from Latin pinna "feather" (see pen entry 3), reflecting a calque of Old High German fedara, meaning both "feather" and "article made of fur" (or a cognate Germanic form).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pane

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

Kids Definition

pane

noun

ˈpān 

1

: a piece, section, or side of something (as a sheet of glass in a window)

2

: one of the sections (as of 50 or 100 stamps) into which a sheet of postage stamps is divided