I. ˈpan ə l noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, probably from (assumed) Vulgar Latin pannellus, alteration (influenced by Latin -ellus -el) of Latin pannulus small piece of cloth, from pannus cloth, rag, ribbon + -ulus -ule — more at vane
1. obsolete : pannel I
2.
a. obsolete : a small piece of parchment
b.
(1) : a schedule containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by a sheriff
(2) : the whole group of persons so summoned from which the jury is selected
(3) : jury 1
c. : the person or persons arraigned for trial
d. : a list or group of persons selected for some service (as research, investigation, arbitration)
an advisory panel of experts
test results … accomplished by a panel of tasters — Biological Abstracts
e.
(1) : a list of physicians from among whom a patient may make a choice in accordance with various British health and insurance plans
(2) : the patients cared for by a doctor under such a plan
f.
(1) : a group of three or more people often skilled in various fields who conduct before an audience a discussion on a topic (as of political, economic, or social interest) in order to stimulate interest and to present different points of view rather than to arrive at a single solution or to establish the superiority of one viewpoint
(2) or panel discussion : a discussion conducted by such a panel — compare debate , symposium
g. : a group of three or more entertainers or guests engaged as players in a quiz game or guessing game conducted by a master of ceremonies on a radio or television program
h.
(1) : a number of persons interviewed as a population sample on two or more occasions for the purposes of a survey (as to ascertain changes in attitude or situation during the interim)
consumer panel
listener panel
labor force panel
panel study
(2) : a survey of attitudes, opinions, or objective data using such a panel
a fact-finding panel
3.
[probably influenced in meaning by Latin panis door panel, table, from panis food — more at food ]
: a separate or distinct part of a surface
cuts steel sheets into exact sizes for fenders, hoods, and roof panels — Time
the transparent panel of a window envelope
the inscription engraved in the panel of this Royal Medal — P.H.Pettiford
as
a. : a fence section (as the part between two posts in a rail fence) : hurdle
b.
(1) : a thin usually rectangular board set sunken in a frame (as in a door, wainscot, or chair back)
(2) : a usually sunken or raised section of a surface (as a wall or ceiling) set off by a molding or other margin sometimes of different material or color
(3) : a flat usually rectangular piece of construction material (as plywood, metal, concrete, plastic) made usually in a standard size to form part of a surface (as a wall, ceiling, floor)
quickly put up a wall of prefabricated plywood panels
c.
(1) : a compartment of some design in carpet bedding
(2) : a level expanse of turf (as in a garden)
d.
(1) : an area on a book cover enclosed by a tooled or stamped border
(2) : an affixed or inserted label on a book cover on which tooling, stamping, or finishing may be done
e.
(1) : a vertical section of fabric (as a gore in a skirt) usually stitched by two or more sides into or onto a garment
(2) : a length of fabric (as a curtain) allowed to hang freely from its upper edge
(3) : one of the gores of a parachute canopy
f.
(1) : box 9a, 9c
(2) : a cartoon consisting of a single picture
(3) : a space on a postage stamp set off by a border or a tinted ground and containing a value figure, inscription, separate unit of design, or insignia — called also label, tablet
g. : a flat-bottomed furrow with sloping or curved sides cut in ornamental glassware
h.
(1) : any of several units of construction of a wing surface of an airplane
(2) : any unit piece of fabric of which the envelope or outer cover of an aerostat is made
(3) : the area in a rigid airship bounded by two adjacent longitudinals and two adjacent transverses
f.
(1) : any of the flat faces of a box, carton, or case whether separate or in finished form
the trademark printed on the front panel
(2) : any flat, smooth, or unmarked area on a container
a panel on the jar lid for marking in the price
4.
a. : a thin flat piece of wood on which a picture is painted usually in tempera or oil and tempera combined ; also : a painting on such a surface
b. or panel photograph : a long narrow photograph ; especially : one about 4 inches by 8 1/2 inches
c. : a picture painted or mounted on a section of wall
d. : a photograph mounted on a stiff backing for display
5.
a. obsolete : a small portion of coal left uncut
b. : one of the divisions marked by pillars of extra size into which a mine is laid off in one system of extracting coal or ore
6.
a. : one of the sections of a folding screen or triptych
b.
(1) : a book forming part of a series (as a trilogy presenting a subject in historical sequence)
(2) : a series of such works
this book, the second of a projected panel of four about the West — Time
7.
a. : a section of a switchboard
b. : a flat insulating support for parts of an electrical device usually with control handles arranged on one face
c. : a usually vertical mount for controls or dials of instruments of measurement
8.
[influenced in meaning by pane (I) ]
: a distinctively shaped or colored piece of cloth for display on the ground by troops as a means of signaling to airplanes or of marking front lines or friendly installations or vehicles
9. : panel truck
•
- in the panel
II. transitive verb
( paneled or panelled ; paneled or panelled ; paneling or panelling ; panels )
1. : to furnish or decorate with panels
2. : to produce flat surfaces in (a container) by distortion or in manufacture