pan Definition

pan¹
noun

1. A pot, usually made of metal, used for cooking.

Thesaurus: pot, skillet, saucepan, fryer, wok.
2. A panful.
3. Any of various vessels, usually shallow ones, used for domestic, industrial and other purposes.

Example: dustpan
Example: bedpan
4. The bowl of a lavatory.
5. Either of the two dishes on a pair of scales.
6. A shallow hollow in the ground.

Example: a salt pan
7. historical
The hollow part of an old gunlock, that holds the priming. See also a flash in the pan at flash.
8. Any object similar to a pan in shape.

Example: brainpan
9. A hard layer under or in the soil.
10. A hollow metal drum of the type played in a steel band.

verb panned, panning

tr & intr
1. To wash (river gravel) in a shallow metal vessel in search for (eg gold).

Form: pan for something (often)
2. colloq
To criticize something or review (a performance, book, etc) harshly.
Thesaurus: denigrate, disparage, criticize, jeer at, censure, lampoon.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon panne.

Phrasal Verb: pan out

To result or turn out.To come to an end; to be exhausted.

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pan²
verb

tr & intr
panned, panning
1. Said of a film camera, camcorder, etc: to swing round so as to follow a moving object or show a panoramic view.

noun

1. A panning movement or shot.

Etymology: 1920s: a short form of panorama.