pant-

¹ American  

1. variant of panto- before a vowel.

---

pant ² American  

[pant] / pænt /

verb (used without object)

1. to breathe hard and quickly, as after exertion.

   Synonyms:

   vibrate, throb, pulse, pulsate, pound, blow, wheeze, puff, heave

2. to gasp, as for air.

3. to long with breathless or intense eagerness; yearn.

   to pant for revenge.

   Synonyms:

   covet, thirst, hunger, hanker

4. to throb or heave violently or rapidly; palpitate.

5. to emit steam or the like in loud puffs.

6. Nautical. (of the bow or stern of a ship) to work with the shock of contact with a succession of waves.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to breathe or utter gaspingly.

noun

1. the act of panting.

2. a short, quick, labored effort at breathing; gasp.

3. a puff, as of an engine.

4. a throb or heave, as of the breast.

pant ³ American  

[pant] / pænt /

adjective

1. of or relating to pants.

   pant cuffs.

---

noun

1. pant leg.

2. pants.

pant British  

/ pænt /

verb

1. to breathe with noisy deep gasps, as when out of breath from exertion or excitement

2. to say (something) while breathing thus

3. to have a frantic desire (for); yearn

4. (intr) to pulsate; throb rapidly

---

noun

1. the act or an instance of panting

2. a short deep gasping noise; puff

Usage

What does pant- mean? Pant- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “all.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.Pant- comes from the Greek pâs, meaning “all.” The equivalent form derived from Latin is omni-, as in omnivore, which comes from Latin omnis, “all.”What are variants of pan-?Pant- is a variant of panto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Another common variant of pant- is pan-, as in panhuman.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on pan- and panto-.

Related Words

Pant, gasp suggest breathing with more effort than usual. Pant suggests rapid, convulsive breathing, as from violent exertion or excitement: to pant after running for the train. Gasp suggests catching one's breath in a single quick intake, as from amazement, terror, and the like, or a series of such quick intakes of breath, as in painful breathing: to gasp with horror; to gasp for breath.

Other Word Forms

• pantingly adverb
• unpanting adjective

Etymology

Origin of pant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb panten, from Old French pant(a)is(i)er, from unattested Vulgar Latin phantasiāre “to have visions,” from Greek phantasioûn “to have or form images”; fantasy

Origin of pant¹

First recorded in 1890–95; singular of pants

Example Sentences

“Get moving as quickly as you can, Nell,” she ordered, pinching a few stickpins between her lips as she hurriedly tried to hem a pair of black pants.

From Literature

"In New York, it's called 'No Pants', but that means something different in London," where pants refers to underwear, explained Selkirk.

From Barron's

Rows of lime-green mats were filled with children in pajamas, bathing suits and pint-size yoga pants.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dressed in blue and orange jail shirts and khaki pants, the two wore headphones to listen to a Spanish translation during the hearing, an attorney sitting between them.

From BBC

The Broncos wore throwback uniforms from 1977 — blue helmets, orange jerseys, white pants — and their defense swarmed like those “Orange Crush” days of yesteryear.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breathe heavily