Pan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Panned p. pr. & vb. n. Panning.]
  1. Mining To separate, as gold, from dirt or sand, by washing in a kind of pan. [U. S.]
     We . . . witnessed the process of cleaning up and panning out, which is the last process of separating the pure gold from the fine dirt and black sand.   --Gen. W. T. Sherman.
  pan
       n 1: cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel [syn: cooking
            pan]
       2: (Greek mythology) god of fields and woods and shepherds and
          flocks; represented as a man with goat's legs and horns
          and ears; identified with Roman Sylvanus or Faunus [syn: the
          goat god]
       3: shallow container made of metal
       4: chimpanzees; more closely related to Australopithecus than
          to other pongids [syn: genus Pan]
       v 1: make a sweeping movement; "The camera panned across the
            room"
       2: wash dirt in a pan to separate out the precious minerals
          [syn: pan out, pan off]
       3: express a totally negative opinion of; "The critics panned
          the performance" [syn: tear apart, trash]
       [also: panning, panned]