pane

noun

: 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 adjective
paneless adjective

Examples of pane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From an energy-efficiency standpoint, storm windows can improve overall thermal performance by reducing air leakage, especially on older single-pane windows. Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026 All of the Public Market’s original windows, many of which had numerous broken panes, were removed and sent to a preservationist for repair. Samuel O’Neal 21, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026 Nutanix's Prism management interface provides unified visibility across both virtualization and storage layers, preserving a single-pane-of-glass view that reduces operational overhead. Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026 Household Glass Window panes, mirrors, light bulbs and tableware are impractical to recycle. Chris Baskind, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pane

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pane was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pane. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

pane

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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