n. 1 a broad usu. metal vessel used for cooking etc. b contents of this. 2 panlike vessel in which substances are heated etc. 3 similar shallow container, e.g. the bowl of a pair of scales. 4 lavatory bowl. 5 part of the lock in old guns. 6 hollow in the ground (Saltpan). v. (nn) 1 colloq. criticize severely. 2 a (foll. by off, out) wash (goldbearing gravel) in a pan. b search for gold thus. o pan out 1 (of an action etc.) turn out; work out well or in a specified way. 2 (of gravel) yield gold. o panful n. (pl. s). panlike adj. [Old English] pane v. (nn) 1 swing (a film camera) horizontally to give a panoramic effect or to follow a moving object. 2 (of a camera) be moved thus. n. panning movement. [from PANORAMA] pan comb. form 1 all; the whole of. 2 relating to the whole of a continent, racial group, religion, etc. (panAmerican). [Greek pan, neuter of pas pantos all]
