\ ˈskan 
\
\scanned; scanning
Definition of scan
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
3a : 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
scan
nounDefinition of scan (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : the act or process of scanning
2 : a radar or television trace
3 : an image formed by scanning something: such as
a : a depiction (such as a photograph) of the distribution of a radioactive material in something (such as a bodily organ)
b : an image of a bodily part produced (as by computer) by combining ultrasonic or radiographic data obtained from several angles or sections
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Other Words from scan
Verb
scannable \ ˈska-nə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjectiveSynonyms for scan
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun
- audit,
- check,
- checkup,
- examination,
- going-over,
- inspection,
- look-see,
- review,
- scrutiny,
- survey,
- view
Examples of scan in a Sentence
Verb
He scanned the field with binoculars.
He scanned the audience looking for his parents.
She scanned his face for any clue to what he was thinking.
She quickly scanned the pages of the newspaper.
She scanned through the list to find her name.
Their bags were scanned at the airport.
This machine scans a patient's brain. Noun
The patient underwent a brain scan.
The doctor examined the bone scans.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Its new product, called GoSafe, could scan foreheads for elevated temperatures and detect when students aren’t wearing masks.
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Gregory Barber, Wired, "Schools Adopt Face Recognition in the Name of Fighting Covid," 3 Nov. 2020 Such a change could be paired with switching from paper tickets to smart cards, like the Ventra system in Chicago, so people could simply scan their fare cards instead of showing them to the driver.
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Conor Morris, cleveland, "Officials, riders debate the safety of riding the RTA during the pandemic," 30 Oct. 2020 In one Ohio case, the post office didn’t scan a letter until five days after a reporter put the envelope in his outgoing mail.
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The Enquirer And Usa Today, The Enquirer, "As deadlines loom for absentee ballots, USPS still lagging its service standards in Ohio," 26 Oct. 2020 Under the express transit mode, riders can scan their device, without opening apps or unlocking it, at a Ventra card reader on buses and at train stations.
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Abdel Jimenez, chicagotribune.com, "Tap and go: CTA, Pace launch digital Ventra card for iPhone and Apple Watch riders," 26 Oct. 2020 Additionally, motorists should scan the road and sides of the road ahead for pedestrians, avoid distracted and aggressive driving, and never pass or drive around a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
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Tim Harlow, Star Tribune, "Feds launch campaign as pedestrian deaths see highest toll in a decade," 25 Oct. 2020 There are other ways to scan and fax, for free, using your phone or your browser.
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Kim Komando, USA TODAY, "5 common tech problems gone with these easy solutions," 22 Oct. 2020 Cameras and sensors would scan the water for potential obstacles, and a navigation system like those used in submarines and airplanes would help the vessels find their way.
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Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, "Norway Is Developing Self-driving Ferries That Passengers Can Summon With the Push of a Button," 20 Oct. 2020 The service will scan and identify claims that are potentially fraudulent, allowing department employees to work through claims more strategically.
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Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin unemployment department says adjudication of claims will be sped up thanks to new partnership with Google Cloud," 19 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The scan showed Deanthony was suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma and he was rushed to Riley.
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Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, "16-year-old Deanthony Rogers beat cancer three times; now he'll have a chance to inspire Colts," 21 Nov. 2020 Although millions of people have brain MRIs each year, about 20% of those images are considered invalid because a patient might twitch during the scan.
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Meghana Keshavan, STAT, "A MacArthur ‘genius’ will likely use his grant to support his wife’s work — in the name of science," 29 Oct. 2020 Then if the scan does pick up something concerning, people need time to get a specialist appointment for a second opinion.
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Susan Rinkunas, Health.com, "What Is 'Late-Term Abortion'? Here's What Politicians Mean—And Why It's Not Medically Accurate," 27 Oct. 2020 Tap the photo shutter button at the bottom of the screen to complete the scan, then tap Save.
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Kim Komando, USA TODAY, "5 common tech problems gone with these easy solutions," 22 Oct. 2020 The study missed its goal of curbing hospitalizations by 10% in the year after the scan: Rates were 24% among those scanned versus 25% of the others.
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Marilynn Marchione, Star Tribune, "Medicare coverage for Alzheimer brain scans in question," 30 July 2020 Like the new scan of the oil painting copy, the high-resolution image can also be explored online.
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Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "See ‘The Last Supper’ in a New High-Resolution Scan Online," 22 June 2020 The other issue concerned a data report from the Postal Service showing that 300,000 ballots lacked a delivery scan the day before Election Day.
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Tyler Van Dyke, Washington Examiner, "'Boxes of ballots' and facilities sweeps: Post office official testifies before federal judge," 4 Nov. 2020 In February 2017, the scan showed multiple areas of possible cancer activity.
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Karen Peterson, Health.com, "This Woman With Metastatic Breast Cancer Did Her Own Research to Find a Clinical Trial to Fight the Disease," 29 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for scan
scan
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of scan
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to look at (something) carefully usually in order to find someone or something
: to look over or read (something) quickly
: to look at the inside of (something) by using a special machine
scan
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of scan (Entry 2 of 2)
: the act of looking at something carefully or quickly
: the act or process of using a special machine to see the inside of something (such as a part of the body)
: a picture of the inside of something that is made by a special machine
See the full definition for scan in the English Language Learners Dictionary
scan
verb\ ˈskan \
\scanned; scanning
Kids Definition of scan
1 : to examine or look over carefully
He scanned the field with binoculars.
2 : to look through or over quickly
I scanned the headlines of the newspaper.
3 : to examine with a special device (as a scanner) especially to obtain information
My bag was scanned at the airport.
scan
verb\ ˈskan \
\scanned; scanning
Medical Definition of scan
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to examine especially systematically with a sensing device (as a photometer or a beam of radiation)
b : to pass an electron beam over and convert (an image) into variations of electrical properties (as voltage) that convey information electronically
2 : to make a scan of (as the human body) in order to detect the presence or localization of radioactive material
: to make a scan of the body or of an organ or part
scan
nounMedical Definition of scan (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : the act or process of scanning
2a : a depiction (as a photograph) of the distribution of a radioactive material in something (as a bodily organ)
b : an image of a bodily part produced (as by computer) by combining ultrasonographic or radiographic data obtained from several angles or sections
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Time Traveler for scan
The first known use of scan was in the 14th century
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