pan

Everyday

1. A pan is a metal pot for cooking food, often with a long handle, like a frying pan or saucepan. tree →
2. A pan is also one of the two dishes of a balance scale. tree →
3. A baking pan or tin holds cakes in the oven. tree →
4. To pan for gold is to wash river sand in a pan to find gold. tree →
5. To pan a film is to say it is very bad. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a kitchen thing counted; cakes or cookies baked in pans («per pan» is a group size); the two pans of a scale. In everyday life: frying eggs in a pan, washing pans after dinner. In history: gold rush miners panned for gold in California, Australia and New Zealand. Phrases: «frying pan», «saucepan», «out of the frying pan into the fire» (from bad to worse).

Examples

• Each pan holds 12 cookies. tree →
• She bakes 3 pans of muffins. tree →
• Put 2 weights on the left pan. tree →
• How many pans are needed for 50 rolls? tree →
• Dad fried the eggs in a pan. tree →
• Careful, the pan is very hot! tree →
• Miners panned for gold in the river. tree →
• Grease the cake pan before you pour in the mix. tree →
• Out of the frying-pan into the fire. tree →

Note

Countable: «a pan». «Pot» is deeper; «pan» is often wider and flatter. Maths: often «per pan» — a group size, so total = pans × each. Trap: on a scale, both pans must weigh the same when it balances. Safety: turn pan handles away from the edge of the cooker.

In Jewish tradition

A vessel of the Tabernacle: the golden pan holding incense, the baking pan for meal-offerings, and fire-pans for coals.

Interpretation. The golden pans of incense brought by the chieftains are read as their offerings at the altar's dedication. The fire-pans of Korah's men were hammered into a covering for the altar as a warning.

Examples

• one golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense; (Torah NUM.7.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• And if thy offering be a meal-offering of the stewing-pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. (Torah LEV.2.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Eleazar the priest took the brazen fire-pans, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, (Torah NUM.16.39, JPS 1917) tree →
• and the snuffers, and the basins, and the pans, and the fire-pans, of pure gold. (Writings 2CH.4.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. (Prophets 2SA.13.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. (Prophets 1SA.2.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: «a pan». «Pot» is deeper; «pan» is often wider and flatter. Maths: often «per pan» — a group size, so total = pans × each. Trap: on a scale, both pans must weigh the same when it balances. Safety: turn pan handles away from the edge of the cooker.