pan

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. a very negative review of a film, book, or play.

n. a severe or highly negative critical review of a creative work.

“The movie was a total pan, with critics calling it the worst of the year.”

“Despite the universal pan from local critics, the play managed to attract a significant audience through word-of-mouth alone.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Geography

n. a large, flat area of land that is lower than the ground around it.

n. a natural basin or depression in the earth, often containing salt or water.

“The animals gathered at the salt pan to find minerals in the dry earth.”

“The vast salt pans of the region become impassable during the brief rainy season when they transform into shallow lakes.”

B1 · Intermediate Photography

v. to move a camera slowly from one side to the other to follow a person or show a view.

v. to rotate a camera horizontally on a fixed axis to provide a panoramic view or follow a moving subject.

“The camera panned across the crowd to show how many people were there.”

“The cinematographer panned slowly from the mountain peak down to the valley floor to establish the scale of the landscape.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to say very bad things about a new book, movie, or show.

v. to review a creative work or performance with extreme negativity.

“Critics panned the new musical, saying the songs were boring and the acting was poor.”

“The director's latest effort was panned by the industry press, effectively ending any hopes for an awards-season campaign.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to wash dirt in a pan with water to find small pieces of gold.

v. to wash gold-bearing gravel or earth in a pan to separate the precious metal.

“The old miners spent all day panning for gold in the cold river.”

“During the gold rush, thousands of hopeful prospectors panned the riverbeds of the territory in search of a fortune.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to result in success or end up being a good thing.

v. to result in a particular outcome, especially a successful one; almost exclusively used in the phrasal form 'pan out'.

“We had a great plan for the business, but things didn't pan out the way we expected.”

“Although the initial merger didn't pan out, the two companies eventually found a way to collaborate on specific projects.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang

adj. a short way of saying pansexual, meaning someone who is attracted to people of all genders.

adj. an informal clipping of pansexual or panromantic.

“She describes herself as pan and is very active in the local community.”

“The survey allowed respondents to identify as gay, straight, bi, or pan to better reflect modern identities within the student body.”