Word: Pan

Pronunciation

/pæn/

Definitions

• Noun:

  • A shallow, usually round dish with sloping sides, used for cooking food (e.g., frying eggs or making sauces): “a frying pan”
  • A container made of metal or other material used for baking bread, cakes, or pastries: “a loaf pan”
  • In theater, film, or television, a panoramic shot taken with a wide-angle lens that captures a broad view: “the camera panned across the landscape”
  • In music, a set of instruments of the same type, especially drums: “a drum pan”
  • In mining, a device for washing gold-bearing soil or gravel.

• Verb:

  • To scan or move a camera or one’s gaze across an area: “The photographer panned across the crowd.”
  • To criticize harshly or reject completely: “The critics panned the new play.”
  • To search through (an area or material) hoping to find something valuable; often associated with gold panning: “They panned for gold in the river.”

Phrases

• “Pan out” means to have a successful outcome or result, often used in reference to plans or projects: “Let’s hope this plan pans out.”
• “Pan over/around/across” refers to moving a camera or one’s gaze to cover a wide area.
• “A panacea” refers to a remedy claimed to cure all diseases or solve all problems.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “She baked the lasagna in a large rectangular pan.”
• Verb: “The director panned the camera from left to right to capture the entire scene.”
• “After the disappointing premiere, the movie was universally panned by reviewers.”

Synonyms

• (noun, for the cooking utensil) skillet, frypan
• (verb, for scanning or criticizing) scan, criticize, review, critique
• (verb, for searching) sift, sieve, comb through