Meaning & use
a panorama
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Meanings
nouncountable
A wide, usually beautiful view of a large area of land or scenery seen from one place.
Grammar: Countable, so you can say 'a panorama' or 'panoramas'; often followed by 'of' to name what you see.
Patterns
- a panorama of something
- a panorama over something
- enjoy/take in a panorama
From the top of the hill there is a panorama of the whole valley.
We stopped at the viewpoint to admire the panorama of the coast below.
The hotel restaurant offers a panorama over the harbor and the old town.
nouncountabletechnical
A photograph or picture that shows a very wide view, often made by joining several images.
Grammar: Countable; common with verbs like 'take' and 'shoot' and with 'in panorama mode'.
Patterns
- take a panorama
- shoot a panorama
- a panorama of something
She took a panorama of the beach with her phone.
The camera has a setting that creates a panorama automatically.
He printed a large panorama of the mountain range for the office wall.
nouncountableformalfigurative
A broad, complete view of a subject, situation, or period of history.
Grammar: Countable and rather formal; usually followed by 'of' plus the subject being surveyed.
Patterns
- a panorama of something
- provide/give a panorama of something
The final chapter gives a panorama of twentieth-century art.
Her book offers a panorama of life in the region over three centuries.
The exhibition presents a panorama of the city's musical history.
Word forms
| plural | panoramas |
|---|
Common combinations
- a breathtaking panorama
- From the summit we saw a breathtaking panorama of snow and rock.
- a panoramic view
- The tower gives a panoramic view of the entire city.
- take in the panorama
- We sat on the wall and took in the panorama.
- a panorama of the city
- The photo shows a panorama of the city at night.
- a mountain panorama
- The train ride offers a constant mountain panorama.
Synonyms and how they differ
- view
- More general and neutral; 'view' can be anything you see from a place, while 'panorama' stresses that it is very wide.
- vista
- More literary and often suggests a long view down a valley or avenue; 'panorama' is the everyday word.
- scene
- Focuses on what is happening or what the place looks like rather than on how wide it is.
- landscape
- Refers to the countryside itself or a picture of it, not to the act of seeing it from one spot.
Word family
- panoramic adjective
- Describing a view or photograph that is very wide.
- panoramically adverb
- In a way that shows a wide view all around.
Commonly confused: a panorama or panoramic?
a panorama vs panoramic
'Panorama' is the noun for the wide view; 'panoramic' is the adjective that describes such a view, as in 'a panoramic view'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'panorama' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Panorama' is a countable noun for a wide view, so 'had a panorama of the bay' fits. Option A wrongly uses it to describe a room, C invents a verb, and D uses it as a feeling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a panorama”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.