Pan1  —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 (salt-pan). —v. (-nn-) 1 colloq. Criticize severely. 2 a (foll. By off, out) wash (gold-bearing gravel) in a pan. B search for gold thus.  pan out 1 (of an action etc.) Turn out; work out well or in a specified way. 2 (of gravel) yield gold.  panful n. (pl. -s). Panlike adj. [old english]