ENGLISH
REFERENCE

panel

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpænəɫ// UK //pˈænəl// pan·el Academic Archaic General-service

n. a small group of people chosen to discuss a topic, judge a competition, or give advice. You often see panels on news shows or at large meetings.

n. a small group of people brought together to discuss, investigate, or decide on a particular matter. Often used in academic, legal, or medical contexts to refer to a body of experts.


SIMPLE

The panel of experts answered questions from the audience.

CONTEXTUAL

A panel of independent doctors reviewed the medical records to ensure the new treatment was safe for patients.

COMPLEX

The university convened a panel of distinguished historians to evaluate the archival evidence and provide a definitive account of the local conflict.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English panel (“piece of cloth, saddle pad, pane of glass, piece of ice, part, division, jury list, jury members”), from Anglo-Norman panel, panelle (“piece of cloth, saddle cushion”), from Vulgar Latin pannellus, diminutive of Latin pannus (“cloth, rag, garment”), from Proto-Indo-European peh₂n- (“fabric”). Cognate with Old English fana (“a piece of cloth, patch, banner, flag, vane”). Doublet of vane.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' to specify the group's composition.

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