panel

/ˈpænl/

/ˈpænəl/

Other forms: panels; panelled; paneled

If you are participating in some kind of contest, it is not ethical to bribe the judges on the panel with brownies. On the other hand, don’t stick your tongue out at them either, since they’ll be determining the winner.

Panel is derived from Old French and originally meant “a piece of cloth.” It’s still used as a sewing term, but now it has additional meanings. It can mean “jury,” as above, and can also refer to a flat piece of a hard surface, often rectangular, such as the wood panel of a door or wall. Panel is also a verb meaning "to install panels." Finally, a control panel has a lot of switches and is a way to make some machines work.

Definitions of panel

1. noun

   sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
   types:

   caisson, coffer, lacuna

   an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome

   footboard

   a vertical board or panel forming the foot of a bedstead

   headboard

   a vertical board or panel forming the head of a bedstead

   pane, paneling, panelling

   a panel or section of panels in a wall or door

   wainscot, wainscoting, wainscotting

   wooden panels that can be used to line the walls of a room

   dado, wainscot

   panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall

   window

   a transparent panel (as of an envelope) inserted in an otherwise opaque material

   wall panel

   paneling that forms part of a wall

   type of:

   flat solid, sheet

   a flat artifact that is thin relative to its length and width
2. noun

   a piece of cloth that is generally triangular or tapering; used in making garments or umbrellas or sails
   synonyms: gore

   type of:

   piece of cloth, piece of material

   a separate part consisting of fabric
3. noun

   (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'
   synonyms: dialog box

   type of:

   window

   (computer science) a rectangular part of a computer screen that contains a display different from the rest of the screen
4. noun

   a single drawing in a comic strip
   synonyms: frame

   type of:

   drawing

   an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
5. verb

   decorate with panels
   “panel the walls with wood”

   type of:

   adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, grace, ornament

   make more attractive by adding ornament, color, etc.
6. noun

   a group of people gathered for a special purpose as to plan or discuss an issue or judge a contest etc
   type of:

   body

   a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity
7. noun

   (law) a group of people summoned for jury service (from whom a jury will be chosen)
   synonyms: venire

   type of:

   body

   a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity
8. noun

   a committee appointed to judge a competition
   synonyms: jury

   type of:

   commission, committee

   a special group delegated to consider some matter
9. verb

   select from a list
   synonyms: empanel, impanel

   type of:

   choose, pick out, select, take

   pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
10. noun

    a soft pad placed under a saddle
    type of:

    pad

    a flat mass of soft material used for protection, stuffing, or comfort
11. noun

    electrical device consisting of a flat insulated surface that contains switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices
    synonyms: board, control board, control panel, instrument panel

    types:

    dashboard, fascia

    instrument panel on an automobile or airplane containing dials and controls

    type of:

    electrical device

    a device that produces or is powered by electricity