Pancake

/ˈpæn.keɪk/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A flat, round cake made from a batter and cooked on a hot surface, usually served as a breakfast food.
She topped her pancake with syrup and fresh strawberries.
A thin, flat cake made from a batter and cooked on a griddle or frying pan.
The restaurant is famous for its fluffy blueberry pancakes.
A reference to a person or thing that has been flattened or is of little substance.
After the fall, he felt like a pancake under the weight of his responsibilities.
verb
To flatten or crush something into a shape similar to that of a pancake.
The car pancaked against the wall.

Etymology

The word pancake is formed from the words 'pan', referring to the cooking utensil, and 'cake', a baked food item.

Common Phrases and Expressions

pancake breakfast
A meal that includes pancakes as the main dish.
pancake day
Celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, traditionally involving the eating of pancakes.

Related Words

hotcake
A type of pancake that is typically served hot.
flapjack
A British term that may refer to a thick pancake or a cereal bar.

Slang Meanings

To pancake
When the car rolled over, it pancaked on the road.