panel

/'pænl/

Friendly

The word "panel" can have several meanings and uses in English. Let's break it down to make it easy to understand.

Basic Definition

1. General Definition: A "panel" is a flat piece or section of something. It can also refer to a group of people gathered for a specific purpose.

Usage

• As a Noun:

Advanced Usage

• As a Verb: "To panel" means to decorate a surface with panels or to select people for a jury.
  • Example: "They decided to panel the walls with beautiful wood."

Variants

• Panelist: A person who is part of a panel.
  • Example: "The panelist shared her insights during the discussion."

Different Meanings

• "Panel" can refer to different contexts (like electrical panels, clothing panels, or discussion panels), so it's important to understand the context in which it is used.

Synonyms

• For Electrical/Graphical Meaning: Dashboard, interface, control board.
• For Group of People: Committee, board, jury.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While there aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that prominently use "panel," you might encounter phrases like "the panel's decision" or "the panel discussion," which indicate the importance of the group or the meeting.

Summary

In summary, "panel" is a versatile word that can refer to flat surfaces, groups of people, or specific functions in technology and design.

Academic

Noun

1. electrical device consisting of a flat insulated surface that contains switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices
   • he checked the instrument panel
   • suddenly the board lit up like a Christmas tree
2. (computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel'
3. a piece of cloth that is generally triangular or tapering; used in making garments or umbrellas or sails
4. a soft pad placed under a saddle
5. a group of people gathered for a special purpose as to plan or discuss an issue or judge a contest etc
6. (law) a group of people summoned for jury service (from whom a jury will be chosen)
7. a committee appointed to judge a competition
8. sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

Verb

1. select from a list
   • empanel prospective jurors
2. decorate with panels
   • panel the walls with wood

Synonyms

• control panel
• instrument panel
• control board
• board
• dialog box
• gore
• venire
• jury
• empanel
• impanel