raster

noun

ras·​ter ˈra-stər 

: a scan pattern (as of the electron beam in a cathode-ray tube) in which an area is scanned from side to side in lines from top to bottom

also : a pattern of closely spaced rows of dots that form an image (as on the cathode-ray tube of a television or computer display)

Examples of raster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ability to edit vector and raster images in the same program is another plus, but again, the tools are limited. —PC Magazine, 26 July 2023

The Ti's advantage in raster operation processors (ROPs) isn’t quite as significant, with a 20% difference. —PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025

Note that generated images are detailed rasters, as opposed to the vectors in Illustrator. —PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025

Smart Objects make for nondestructive, reusable raster and vector images that update throughout your project. —PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

This beam was raster scanned across a square target area 22 micrometers on a side. —IEEE Spectrum, 15 June 2024

Acorn is an inexpensive Photoshop alternative for macOS that works with both raster and vector images. —PCMAG, 10 May 2024

Potential areas of interest for the CMA include all-in-one product design software, vector editing software, and raster editing software. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 28 Nov. 2023

Finally, Chrome has been modified to ignore unnecessary style, layout, paint, raster, and GPU steps on websites, with a similar update also implemented to the Chrome UI. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Raster, originally, "screen used for printing halftones," borrowed from Latin *rāster (presumed singular of rāstrī), rāstrum "hoe with two to six tines," from rādere "to scrape, scratch, pare away, shave" + -trum, suffix of instruments (going back to Indo-European *-tro-) — more at rase

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for raster

• aster
• blaster
• caster
• castor
• faster
• gaster
• laster
• master
• paster
• pastor
• plaster
• vaster