scan

¹

[ skan ]

verb (used with object)

, scanned, scan·ning.

1. to glance at or over or read hastily:

   to scan a page.

   Synonyms: skim

2. to examine the particulars or points of minutely; scrutinize.

   Synonyms: inspect, investigate, study

3. to peer out at or observe repeatedly or sweepingly, as a large expanse; survey.
4. to analyze (verse) as to its prosodic or metrical structure; read or recite (verse) so as to indicate or test the metrical form.
5. to read (data) for use by a computer or computerized device, especially using an optical scanner.
6. Television. to traverse (a surface) with a beam of light or electrons in order to reproduce or transmit a picture.
7. Radar. to traverse (a region) with a beam from a radar transmitter.
8. Medicine/Medical, Biology. to examine (a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material) with a scanner.

verb (used without object)

, scanned, scan·ning.

1. to examine the meter of verse.
2. (of verse) to conform to the rules of meter.
3. Television. to scan a surface or the like.

noun

1. an act or instance of scanning; close examination.
2. a visual examination by means of a television camera, as for the purpose of making visible or relaying pictures from a remote place:

   a satellite scan of the dark side of the moon; video scans of property listings available to customers.

3. a particular image or frame in such video observation or a photograph made from it.
4. Medicine/Medical, Biology.
   1. examination of the body or an organ or part, or a biologically active material, by means of a technique such as computed axial tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasonography, or scintigraphy.
   2. the image or display so obtained.

Scan.

²

abbreviation for

1. Scandinavia.

scan

/ skæn /

verb

1. tr to scrutinize minutely
2. tr to glance over quickly
3. tr prosody to read or analyse (verse) according to the rules of metre and versification
4. intr prosody to conform to the rules of metre and versification
5. tr electronics to move a beam of light, electrons, etc, in a predetermined pattern over (a surface or region) to obtain information, esp either to sense and transmit or to reproduce a television image
6. tr to examine data stored on (magnetic tape, etc), usually in order to retrieve information
7. to examine or search (a prescribed region) by systematically varying the direction of a radar or sonar beam
8. physics to examine or produce or be examined or produced by a continuous charge of some variable

   to scan a spectrum

9. med to obtain an image of (a part of the body) by means of a scanner

noun

1. the act or an instance of scanning
2. med
   1. the examination of a part of the body by means of a scanner

      ultrasound scan

      a brain scan

   2. the image produced by a scanner

Derived Forms

• ˈscannable, adjective

Other Words From

• scanna·ble adjective
• self-scanned adjective
• un·scanna·ble adjective
• un·scanned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scan¹

1350–1400; Middle English scannen, variant of *scanden < Late Latin scandere to scan verse, Latin: to climb ( ascend )

Word History and Origins

Origin of scan¹

C14: from Late Latin scandere to scan (verse), from Latin: to climb

Example Sentences

Each radiologist can interpret imaging scans differently, leading to treatment strategies that fluctuate based on who views the scan.

From Science Daily

“Using a small camera, the scanning machine takes pictures of the text and does electronically what a typist working a word processor does at a keyboard.”

From Los Angeles Times

Border Force is responsible for scanning international mail suspected of containing drugs, firearms, knives, and counterfeit items or goods with unpaid customs fees - but not every package is checked.

From BBC

And in only one case did the delivery person scan the buyer’s ID, as required by federal law.

From Los Angeles Times

Doctors told her that Lily had also suffered a bleed on the brain but a scan later confirmed that she had no serious head injuries.

From BBC

Related Words

• browse
• check
• examine
• flash
• flip through
• leaf through
• look through
• scour
• search
• skim
• thumb through