scan Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region
    • he made a thorough scan of the beach with his binoculars
  2. noun an image produced by scanning
    CAT scan.
    • he analyzed the brain scan
    • you could see the tumor in the CAT scan
  3. verb examine minutely or intensely
    • the surgeon scanned the X-ray
  4. verb examine hastily
    glance over; rake; skim; run down.
    • She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi
  5. verb make a wide, sweeping search of
    • The beams scanned the night sky
  6. verb conform to a metrical pattern
  7. verb move a light beam over; in electronics, to reproduce an image
  8. verb read metrically
    • scan verses
  9. verb obtain data from magnetic tapes
    read.
    • This dictionary can be read by the computer

WordNet

Scan transitive verb
Etymology
L. scandere, scansum, to climb, to scan, akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap: cf. F. scander. Cf. Ascend, Descend, Scale a ladder.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scanned ; present participle & verbal noun Scanning
Definitions
  1. To mount by steps; to go through with step by step. Obs.
    Nor stayed till she the highest stage had scand. Spenser.
  2. Specifically (Pros.), to go through with, as a verse, marking and distinguishing the feet of which it is composed; to show, in reading, the metrical structure of; to recite metrically.
  3. To go over and examine point by point; to examine with care; to look closely at or into; to scrutinize.
    The actions of men in high stations are all conspicuous, and liable to be scanned and sifted. Atterbury.
  4. To examine quickly, from point to point, in search of something specific; as, to scan an article for mention of a particular person.
  5. (ELectronics) To form an image or an electronic representation of, by passing a beam of light or electrons over, and detecting and recording the reflected or transmitted signal.

Webster 1913