pan
pan — noun
1. a wide, round metal dish with a long handle, sometimes with a cover, that people
a wide, round metal dish with a long handle, sometimes with a cover, that people use when cooking food over heat on the stove
Megan heated olive oil in a large pan before adding the onions.
collocation: heat oil in a pan
The kitchen cupboard was full of pans of different shapes and sizes.
Rodrigo scrubbed the burnt pan with soap and hot water.
A non-stick pan makes it easier to cook eggs without them sticking together.
Kabir bought a new pan with a glass lid and a heat-resistant handle.
- saucepan
a deep pan with a long handle and a lid, used for boiling or simmering
- frying pan
a wide, shallow pan without a lid, used for frying food
- skillet
American English term for a frying pan, often made of cast iron
常見錯誤
2. a rectangular or round metal dish that goes into an oven for baking or roasting
a rectangular or round metal dish that goes into an oven for baking or roasting food, usually without a cover
Christopher placed the chicken on a baking pan and put it in the oven.
collocation: baking pan
The lasagna was bubbling in a rectangular pan when Adina took it out.
A roasting pan usually has handles on both sides for easy lifting.
Owen lined the cake pan with baking paper before pouring the mixture in.
The pan was too wide to fit on the top shelf of the oven.
- baking tray
a flat, rectangular metal sheet for baking, without raised sides
- roasting tin
a large, deep pan for cooking meat or vegetables in the oven
- cake tin
a round or rectangular pan specifically for baking cakes
用法筆記
Unlike a COOKING PAN (sense 1), an oven pan is designed to go inside an oven and usually has no lid. The most common types are named after the dish they make: cake pan, loaf pan, roasting pan, baking pan.
3. the curved open basin at the bottom of a toilet where water collects
the curved open basin at the bottom of a toilet where water collects
The plumber replaced the cracked pan of the toilet on the ground floor.
British usage: toilet pan
Astrid poured cleaning solution into the toilet pan and left it overnight.
A leak around the toilet pan caused water damage to the bathroom floor below.
The handle broke, so the water in the pan would not flush away properly.
- toilet bowl
the standard term in both American and British English for the bowl part of a toilet
- lavatory pan
a formal British term used by plumbers and in building regulations
用法筆記
Common in British English. In American English, speakers usually say 'toilet bowl' or simply 'toilet' rather than 'pan'.
4. a betel leaf folded around pieces of areca nut and mineral lime, chewed as a mil
a betel leaf folded around pieces of areca nut and mineral lime, chewed as a mild stimulant, common in South and Southeast Asia
In parts of South Asia, people chew pan after meals as a digestive aid.
regional usage: South Asia
Bilal's grandmother taught him to fold a fresh pan with some lime.
The street vendor sold sweet and savoury varieties of pan wrapped in green leaves.
Chewing pan stains the teeth red and is especially common in rural communities there.
- paan
the more common English spelling, showing the Hindi origin of the word
- betel quid
a more formal term used in medical and anthropological writing
用法筆記
Also spelled 'paan'. This sense is limited to South Asian and Southeast Asian cultural contexts. In English-language menus and travel guides, the spelling 'paan' is more common.
pan — verb
1. to rotate a film or video camera horizontally or vertically while keeping its po
to rotate a film or video camera horizontally or vertically while keeping its position fixed, creating a sweeping view of a scene
The camera slowly panned across the audience to capture their reactions.
intransitive: pan across [area]
Kenji panned the video camera from left to right to show the whole beach scene.
transitive: pan [camera] + direction phrase
The camera operator panned the lens to follow the singer across the stage.
The director asked the cameraman to pan up and show the mountain view.
As the car drove away, the camera panned to show the city skyline at night.
文法句型
pan + adverb of direction (left, right, up, across)
用法筆記
The verb is short for 'panorama'. In film-making terms, panning is horizontal movement; tilting is vertical, though in everyday English 'pan' can cover both.
常見錯誤
2. to strongly and publicly criticise something such as a film, book, or performanc
to strongly and publicly criticise something such as a film, book, or performance, saying that it is of very poor quality
The film critics panned the director's latest movie as confusing and dull.
passive: be panned by critics
Christopher's first novel was panned by reviewers for its weak plot and flat characters.
passive: be panned for [reason]
The new restaurant was panned in the local newspaper for serving overpriced food.
Despite being panned by experts, the product sold well across the country.
Élise panned the proposal in the meeting, calling it unrealistic and far too expensive.
- praise
to express warm approval of something
文法句型
be panned by + critic/reviewer
pan + noun (a film, book, product)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice. The subject of the criticism is usually a creative work or performance. Avoid using for everyday personal criticism — 'pan' is reserved for public, often professional, judgement.
常見錯誤
3. to wash soil or gravel from a river in a shallow metal pan, separating out piece
to wash soil or gravel from a river in a shallow metal pan, separating out pieces of gold or other valuable minerals
The old miner spent the whole day panning for gold in the mountain stream.
intransitive: pan for gold
Baraka panned gravel from the riverbed and found several tiny gold flakes.
transitive: pan [material] from [source]
Tourists can try panning for gold at the historic mining site near the village.
After weeks of panning the river, the team collected enough gold to sell.
文法句型
pan for + metal/gold
pan + soil/gravel/river
用法筆記
The phrasal verb 'pan out' comes from this sense — if a plan 'pans out', it works out well, just as a prospector hopes the gold panning will yield results.
常見錯誤
pan — adjective
1. short for pansexual: describing someone whose romantic or sexual interest can in
short for pansexual: describing someone whose romantic or sexual interest can include individuals of all gender identities — male, female, or non-binary
Megan came out as pan during a conversation with her closest friends at the cafe.
adjective after 'come out as'
The dating app now includes pan as an option in the gender preference settings.
Astrid explained that being pan means she can be attracted to people of any gender.
The university support group welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and pan students on campus.
- pansexual
the full, more formal form of the same term
- omnisexual
a similar concept but sometimes emphasises attraction regardless of gender rather than including all genders
- monosexual
attracted to only one gender, such as heterosexual or homosexual
用法筆記
The shortened form 'pan' is informal and used mostly within LGBTQ+ communities and on dating platforms. In formal writing, the full word 'pansexual' is preferred.