panegyric
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pan·e·gyr·ic /pænᵻˈdʒɪrɪk/ n [(on, upon)] fml a speech or piece of writing praising someone or something highly, perhaps too highly
pan·el¹ /ˈpænl/ n 1 a separate usually four-sided division of the surface of a door, wall, or other structure, which is different in some way to the surface round it 2 a board on which controls or instruments of various kinds are fixed: an aircraft's control panel 3 [+sing./pl. v] a) a group of people with special skills who are chosen to perform a particular service: a panel of experts/advisers b) a group of usually well-known speakers or entertainers who answer questions to inform or amuse the public, usually on a radio or television show: a panel game | What does/do the panel think? → see also PANELLIST 4 a piece of cloth of a different colour or material, set in an article of clothing 5 a thin board with a picture painted on it → see also SOLAR PANEL
panel² v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T(in, with)] to decorate with PANELS: a panelled room | The walls were panelled in/with oak.
pan·el·ling BrE || paneling AmE /ˈpænəl-ɪŋ/ n [U] PANELS: oak panelling
pan·el·list BrE || panelist AmE /ˈpænəl-ɪst/ n a member of a PANEL¹
ˈpanel pin n a short thin type of nail used for fastening thin pieces of wood together
pang /pæŋ/ n [(of)] a sudden sharp feeling of pain: pangs of hunger | She left her children with a pang of regret.
Pan·gae·a /pænˈdʒiə/ the very large area of land that existed as the only land on Earth about 300–225 million years ago, before it broke apart to form two large land masses, called Laurasia and Gondwanaland. These later broke apart to form the modern CONTINENTS.
pan·han·dle¹ /ˈpænhændl/ n especially AmE a thin stretch of land joined to a larger area like the handle of a pan
panhandle² v [I] AmE infml to beg, especially in the streets
—dler n
pan·ic¹ /ˈpænɪk/ n 1 [C, usually sing.; U] (a state of) sudden uncontrollable quickly-spreading terror or anxiety: The audience were thrown into a panic when the fire started. | She got into a panic when she thought she'd forgotten the tickets. | Panic spread quickly on the Stock Exchange, and millions of pounds were knocked off the value of shares. | panic selling (=done in a state of panic) 2 [S] AmE old fash slang a very funny thing; SCREAM 3 push the panic button infml to take quick, often careless or violent action as the result of a sudden unexpected and possibly dangerous situation
panic² v -ck- [I(at); T] to (cause to) feel panic: Don't panic! | The crowd panicked at the sound of the explosion. | The thunder panicked the horses. | a crisis that panicked the government into taking rash measures
pan·ic·ky /ˈpænɪki/ adj infml (resulting from) feeling sudden great fear
ˈpanic ˌstations n [U] a state of confused anxiety because something needs to be done in a hurry
ˈpanic-ˌstricken adj filled with panic
pan·jan·drum /pænˈdʒændrəm/ n humor a powerful person, especially one who has a high opinion of his/her own importance
Pank·hurst, Mrs Em·me·line /ˈpækhɜːstl-hɜːrst, ˈeməliːn/ (1858–1928) a famous member of the British SUFFRAGETTES, who fought for women's rights, especially the vote. She was put in prison many times for her actions. Her daughters, Christobel and Sylvia, were also suffragettes and worked for the rights of poor women.
pan·ni·er /ˈpæniər/ n a basket, especially a) either of a pair carried by a horse, on a bicycle etc b) one used to carry a load on a person's back
pan·o·ply /ˈpænəpli/ n [U] splendid ceremonial show or dress: the whole panoply of a royal funeral —plied adj
pan·o·ra·ma /pænəˈrɑːmə || -ˈræmə/ n [(of)] 1 a complete view of a wide stretch of land: a breathtaking panorama from the top of the hill 2 a general representation in words or pictures: This book gives a panorama of life in England 400 years ago. —mic /-ˈræmɪk/ adj: From here you get a panoramic view of the whole valley. —mically /kli/ adv
Panorama 1 a British television programme about politics and CURRENT AFFAIRS which is broadcast weekly on BBC1 and is known for its INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (=when a reporter tries to find out the true facts about something that is happening in politics, business etc) 2 a US television programme which includes serious discussions, usually about CURRENT AFFAIRS
pan·pipes /ˈpænpaɪps/ n [P] a simple musical instrument made of a number of short pipes and played by blowing across their open ends (from Pan, in CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY the Greek god who is supposed to have invented them)
ˈpan ˌpizza n [C; U] a type of PIZZA that has a thicker CRUST (=bread-like base) than ordinary pizza because it is cooked in a deeper pan
pan·sy /ˈpænzi/ n 1 a small garden plant with wide flat flowers in many different colours 2 infml derog a) an EFFEMINATE young man b) old-fash, offensive a male HOMOSEXUAL
pant¹ /pænt/ v 1 [I] to breathe quickly, taking short breaths, especially after great effort or in great heat: He stood panting at the top of the stairs. 2 [T(OUT)] to say while panting: She panted out her message and then collapsed. 3 [I(for)] especially lit to have a strong eager desire; YEARN: She was panting for a chance to speak.
pant² n a short quick breath → see PANTS
pan·ta·loons /ˌpæntəˈluːnz/ n [P] men's close-fitting trousers worn in former times → see PAIR (USAGE)
pan·tech·ni·con /pænˈteknkən||-kaːn/ n BrE old-fash a very large VAN especially a REMOVAL VAN
Pan·tene /ˌpænten/ trademark a type of SHAMPOO (=a product for washing hair) made by PROCTER & GAMBLE
pan·the·is·m /ˈpænθiːɪzəm/ n [U] 1 the religious idea that God and the universe are the same thing and that God is present in all natural things 2 belief in and worship of all gods known to a society —ist n —istic /ˌpænθiˈɪstɪk/ adj: pantheistic religions
pan·the·on /ˈpænθiən||-θiːɑːn/ n 1 all the gods of a society or nation thought of together: Mars, Jupiter, and Vulcan were gods of the Roman pantheon. 2 a temple built in honour of all gods 3 a building in which the famous dead of a nation are buried and/or given honour
pan·ther /ˈpænθər/ n, pl. panthers or panther 1 a LEOPARD especially a black one 2 AmE for COUGAR or JAGUAR
pan·ties /ˈpæntiz/ also pants BrE || usually underpants, underwear AmE — n [P] a short undergarment worn below the waist by women and girls; KNICKERS (BrE) → see PAIR (USAGE); compare UNDERPANTS
pan·tile /ˈpæntaɪl/ n [usually pl.] a TILE (=a piece of baked clay) shaped as a double curve, used in making roofs
pan·to·graph /ˈpæntəɡræf||-ɡræf/ n 1 an instrument used to make a smaller or larger exact copy of a drawing, plan etc 2 the metal structure on top of an electric railway engine for gathering power from the wires hung above the line
pan·to·mime /ˈpæntəmaɪm/ n 1 [C; U] also pan·to /ˈpæntəʊ/ BrE infml — a kind of British play for children, usually performed at Christmas, with music, humorous songs etc 2 [U] MIME (1, 2)
CULTURAL NOTE Pantomimes are based on traditional children's stories, such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Aladdin, and are performed around Christmas time. They traditionally have three types of character. The main male character is called the Principal Boy and is played by an attractive young woman. The funniest character is the Dame who is a fat old woman, played by a man. There is also usually a funny animal character such as a PANTOMIME HORSE. The children who are watching the pantomime are encouraged to sing along with the actors and are also expected to warn them and shout 'He's behind you!' when the bad character appears. The actor pretends not to believe them and says 'Oh no he isn't!' The children then shout 'Oh yes he is!' Most cities have their own pantomimes, and famous singers and television actors often play the main characters.