pancake

American  

[pan-keyk] / ˈpænˌkeɪk /

noun

1. a thin, flat cake of batter fried on both sides on a griddle or in a frying pan; griddlecake or flapjack.

2. Also called pancake landing.  an airplane landing made by pancaking.

---

verb (used without object)

pancaked, pancaking

1. (of an airplane or the like) to drop flat to the ground after leveling off a few feet above it.

verb (used with object)

pancaked, pancaking

1. Informal. to flatten, especially as the result of a collision or other mishap.

   The car had been pancaked by the bus.

2. to cause (an airplane) to pancake.

pancake British  

/ ˈpænˌkeɪk /

noun

1. 1. a thin flat cake made from batter and fried on both sides, often served rolled and filled with a sweet or savoury mixture

   2. ( as modifier )

      pancake mix

2. a Scot name for drop scone

3. a stick or flat cake of compressed make-up

4. Also called: pancake landing.  an aircraft landing made by levelling out a few feet from the ground and then dropping onto it

---

verb

1. to cause (an aircraft) to make a pancake landing or (of an aircraft) to make a pancake landing

pancake Idioms  

1. see flat as a pancake.

---

Regionalisms

Pancake, hot cake, griddlecake, and flapjack, with its derived slapjack, are used interchangeably by many people, regardless of whether a pan or griddle is used for cooking, and each term is widely used throughout the U.S. Flannel cake, however, is confined chiefly to the North Midland U.S. and battercake to South Midland and Southern U.S. The following terms have limited regional use and may refer to flat cakes with different recipes or cooking methods: johnnycake, which is used in the Northeastern U.S.; corn cake in the Midland and Southern U.S.; and hoecake in the South Midland and Southern U.S.

Etymology

Origin of pancake

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; pan ¹, cake

Example Sentences

“Rise and shine, sleepyheads. I made pancakes,” someone said.

From Literature

The smell of pancakes and eggs wafted through Buzz Smith’s campsite.

From Literature

Sweet breakfasts have never been my natural habitat—good oatmeal is a beloved, comparatively rare exception, as is a single yeasty, griddled buttermilk diner pancake swimming in syrup.

From Salon

Coal moved the two incorrectly sized pancakes off the griddle and onto a plate Mari was holding up.

From Literature

Depending on the day, we’ll either make pancakes at home or go to Relentless Brewing & Spirits in Eagle Rock.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cake
• crepe
• waffle