drip pan
- noun
- Is that a drip pan?
- Place a drip pan
- a sturdy drip pan
- grate above the drip pan
Examples
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It might be her drip pan. - Okay.
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I hope you got your drip pan.
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Got my drip pan and I've taken my nap.
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Lily had put up a pot of coffee, and not wanting to wait for it to perk, she stuck her coffee cup under the drip pan and removed the pot.
Fiction book (1993) -
Place a large drip pan in the center of the grill to catch the juices.
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Maintain about an inch of water in the drip pan to prevent smoke.
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Take care when removing the drip pan; it will be extremely hot and may spill.
Synonyms
A shallow wide container, usually metal, for cooking food
A shallow pan placed under roasting meat to catch fat and juices
How Deep
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and literally composed from 'drip' (a tiny falling drop) + 'pan' (a shallow vessel), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a pan used to catch drips. This is a common, compositional noun–noun compound pattern found across many languages and follows standard English compounding, making it immediately understandable.
Etymology
Drip pan is a simple, literal name: a shallow pan placed under something so liquid can drip into it. So it means 'a tray that catches liquids', used under appliances, engines, or food to stop leaks.