panel

PAN-uhl/ˈpænəl/

23 meanings of panel

1
piece of coveringnouncountable
A flat, usually rectangular piece that forms part of a wall, fence, door, or other surface.
Like one piece of a puzzle that fits together with others to cover a whole space.
One panel of the fence blew down in the storm.
Dad replaced two broken panels on the garage door.
Similarsection, sheet
Note
2
expert groupnouncountable
A group of people chosen to judge, give opinions, or talk about something together.
A panel of judges chose the winner of the singing contest.
She answered questions from the panel during her job interview.
UsageYou sit on a panel. Say a panel of judges or experts.
Similarcommittee, board, group
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3
nouncountable
An area on a computer screen that holds buttons, settings, or other controls.
Open the settings panel to change the volume.
She clicked the panel at the side of the screen to see her files.
Similarpane
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4
boxed textnouncountable
A separate box of text or pictures on a page, apart from the main text.
A small panel next to the article lists quick facts.
The recipe page has a panel with cooking tips.
Similarbox, inset
5
comic framenouncountable
One box or drawing in a comic strip or comic book.
Like one photo in a row of photos that tell a story.
In the last panel, the hero finally smiles.
The artist drew six panels on each page of the comic.
Similarframe
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6
nouncountable
A flat piece set into a frame, as in a door, wall, or ceiling.
Each panel in the old ceiling has a gold border.
The library walls have deep wooden panels with carved edges.
Note
7
painting boardnouncountable
A flat piece of wood that an artist paints a picture on instead of cloth.
The artist painted her portrait on a smooth oak panel.
Old paintings on wooden panels can crack as the wood dries.
Similarboard
8
nouncountable
A flat board with switches, dials, and meters used to control electrical machines.
The pilot glanced at the panel to check the fuel gauge.
Dad flipped a switch on the panel in the basement, and the lights came back on.
Similarconsole, switchboard
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Less common meanings

9
set of testsnouncountable
A set of medical tests that are done together.
The doctor ordered a blood panel to check her health.
Results from the panel came back normal.
Similarbattery, profile, screen
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10
cover wallsverbtransitive
To cover the walls of a room, or another surface, with flat pieces of wood or other material.
They want to panel the basement in light wood.
Grandpa paneled his office with boards from the old barn.
UsageSay paneled in wood. In the US it is paneled; in the UK, panelled.
Similarwainscot, line, clad
11
jurynouncountable
The whole group of people picked to decide a case in court.
The lawyer asked the panel whether anyone knew the person on trial.
The judge thanked the panel after the trial ended.
Similarjury
Note
12
dress stripnouncountable
A plain strip of cloth, such as velvet, sewn down a dress skirt as decoration.
Her new dress had a soft panel of velvet running down each side of the skirt.
At the store, she picked a black skirt with thin red velvet panels going from the waist to the bottom.
Similarstrip, band, insert
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13
list jurorsverbobsoletetransitive
To put people's names on the official list for a jury.
Note
14
put saddle onverbobsoletetransitive
To put a simple soft saddle on an animal such as a mule or donkey.
Note
15
cloth saddlenounobsolete
A piece of cloth used as a simple saddle.
A panel and wanty, packsaddle and ped, with line to fetch litter, and halters for hed
1557, Thomas Tusser, A Hundreth Good Pointes of HusbandrieHere, panel means a cloth pad used as a saddle.
Note
16
noun
One section of a frame, such as a bridge's frame, between two neighboring posts or supports.
17
noun
A written list of the people called to serve on a jury.
18
noun
One of the flat sides of a stone that has been cut into shape.
19
noun
A soft pad placed under a saddle's frame to keep it from rubbing the animal's back.
20
nounhistoricalBritish
A list of doctors in Britain who gave some free medical care before the national health system started.
21
noun
In Scottish courts, the person who is on trial for a crime.
22
noun
A pile of rock containing metal that has been cleaned and sorted at a mine.
23
noun
One part of a coal mine, separated from the next part by extra-thick walls of coal left standing.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin pannus, meaning "cloth" or "rag." It came into English through French and once meant a piece of cloth or a saddle pad.

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Panel ultimately derives from Latin pannus through French. en.wikisource.org
Latin pannus meant cloth or rag. en.wiktionary.org
Panel formerly meant a piece of cloth or a saddle pad. en.wikisource.org