Main Entry: ¹scan

Pronunciation: \ˈskan\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): scanned; scan·ning

Etymology: Middle English scannen, from Late Latin scandere, from Latin, to climb; akin to Middle Irish sceinnid he springs, Sanskrit skandati he leaps

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to read or mark so as to show metrical structure <scan poetry>
2 : to examine by point-by-point observation or checking: a : to investigate thoroughly by checking point by point and often repeatedly <a fire lookout scanning the hills with binoculars> b : to glance from point to point of often hastily, casually, or in search of a particular item <scan the want ads looking for a job>
3 a : to examine systematically (as by passing a beam of radiation over or through) in order to obtain data especially for display or storage <scanned the patient's heart> <radar scans the horizon> <scan the photos into the computer> b : to pass over in the formation of an image <the electron beam scans the picture tube>intransitive verb 1 : to scan verse
2 : to conform to a metrical pattern <this poem scans well>

synonyms see scrutinize

— scan·na·ble \ˈska-nə-bəl\ adjective