scan: Meaning and Definition of

scan

Pronunciation: (skan), [key]
— v., n. scanned, scan•ning,
—v.t.
  1. to examine the particulars or points of minutely; scrutinize.
  2. to glance at or over or read hastily: to scan a page.
  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, esp. using an optical scanner.
  6. to traverse (a surface) with a beam of light or electrons in order to reproduce or transmit a picture.
  7. to traverse (a region) with a beam from a radar transmitter.
  8. to examine (a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material) with a scanner.
—v.i.
  1. to examine the meter of verse.
  2. (of verse) to conform to the rules of meter.
  3. to scan a surface or the like.
—n.
  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.
    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.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. Scandinavia.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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