scan

—scannable, adj.

/skan/, v., scanned, scanning, n.

v.t.

1. to glance at or over or read hastily: to scan a page.

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

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. 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. Med., Biol. to examine (a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material) with a scanner.

v.i.

9. to examine the meter of verse.

10. (of verse) to conform to the rules of meter.

11. Television. to scan a surface or the like.

n.

12. an act or instance of scanning; close examination.

13. 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.

14. a particular image or frame in such video observation or a photograph made from it.

15. Med., Biol.

a. 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.

b. the image or display so obtained.

[1350-1400; ME scannen, var. of *scanden < LL scandere to scan verse, L: to climb (see ASCEND)]

Syn. 1. study, investigate, inspect, search. 2. skim.

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