Topic: INDUSTRY
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | panne |
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pan1
[countable]
[countable]1 a round metal container that you use for cooking, usually with one long handle and a lid [= saucepan]: 
a frying panpots and pans Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water.
for cooking
DFUa frying panpots and pansCook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water.2 a metal container for baking things in [= tin British English] a cake pan
for baking cakes etc
American EnglishDFUa cake pan3 a wide, usually round, open container with low sides, used for holding liquids
open container
American EnglishTI4 the bowl of a toilet
toilet
British English5 to be wasted or become useless or ruined : The business is rapidly going down the pan.
go down the pan
British English informalThe business is rapidly going down the pan. ➔ warming pan
