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View synonyms for scan

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

      a brain scan

      ultrasound scan

    2. the image produced by a scanner

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Derived Forms

  • ˈscannable, adjective

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Other Words From

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

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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 )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of scan1

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

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Example Sentences

Not long after I was finally diagnosed, my doctor ordered a bone density scan.

His first prescription when I saw him was to have the CAT scan test that I had been forced to postpone for a month and a half.

The fMRI scan measures blood flow in the brain, and can sense when certain areas are activated.

Prince William was seen clutching an envelope, when they left, most likely containing images of the scan.

If this was indeed the 12-week scan, we wil probably soon get an announcement from the palace concerning Kate's due date.

I could hardly believe the verses would scan by daylight, but I can't find a mistake.

Scan the line by reading—Glorius virgn', of all-e flur-es flur.

In his capacity of Indian agent Walter Lowell often had occasion to scan the business deals of his more progressive wards.

Who has not devoured the classical dictionary before he has learned to scan the lines of Homer or of Virgil?

Still the host pressed on, though, far back as eye might scan, the carcasses and the crows marked out the line of marching.

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