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   scan

   /skan/

   verb

   • 1. look at all parts of (something) carefully in order to detect some feature: "he raised his binoculars to scan the coast" Similar studyexaminescrutinizeinspectsurveysearchscoursweeprakelook atlook someone/something up and downstare atgaze ateyewatchcontemplateregardtake stock ofglassinformal:check outreccescopearchaic:con
   • ▪ look quickly but not very thoroughly through (a document or other text) in order to identify relevant information: "we scan the papers for news from the trouble spots" Similar glance through/overlook through/overhave a look atrun/pass/cast one's eye overskimflick throughflip throughriffle throughleaf throughthumb throughread quicklybrowse throughperuseOpposite pore over
   • 2. cause (a surface, object, or part of the body) to be traversed by a detector or an electromagnetic beam: "their brains are scanned so that researchers can monitor the progress of the disease"
   • ▪ cause (a beam) to traverse across a surface or object: "we scanned the beam over a sector of 120°"
   • ▪ convert (a document or picture) into digital form for storage or processing on a computer: "text and pictures can be scanned into the computer"
   • ▪ resolve (a picture) into its elements of light and shade in a prearranged pattern for the purposes of television transmission.
   • 3. analyse the metre of (a line of verse) by reading with the emphasis on its rhythm or by examining the pattern of feet or syllables.
   • ▪ (of verse) conform to metrical principles: "well, it doesn't rhyme and certainly doesn't scan"

   noun

   • 1. an act of scanning someone or something: "a quick scan of the sports page" Similar inspectionscrutinyexaminationsurveysearchglancelookflickbrowseskim
   • 2. a medical examination using a scanner: "a brain scan" Similar examinationscreeningultrasound (scan)
   • ▪ an image obtained by scanning or with a scanner: "you can't predict anything until he has seen the scan"

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a verb in scan (sense 3 of the verb)): from Latin scandere ‘climb’ (in late Latin ‘scan (verses)’), by analogy with the raising and lowering of one's foot when marking rhythm. From ‘analyse (metre)’ arose the senses ‘estimate the correctness of’ and ‘examine minutely’, which led to ‘look at searchingly’ (late 18th century).

   Derivatives

   • 1. scannable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

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