to glance at or over or read hastily.
to scan a page.
to examine the particulars or points of minutely; scrutinize.
to peer out at or observe repeatedly or sweepingly, as a large expanse; survey.
to analyze (verse) as to its prosodic or metrical structure; read or recite (verse) so as to indicate or test the metrical form.
to read (data) for use by a computer or computerized device, especially using an optical scanner.
Television. to traverse (a surface) with a beam of light or electrons in order to reproduce or transmit a picture.
Radar. to traverse (a region) with a beam from a radar transmitter.
Medicine/Medical, Biology. to examine (a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material) with a scanner.
to examine the meter of verse.
(of verse) to conform to the rules of meter.
Television. to scan a surface or the like.
an act or instance of scanning; close examination.
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.
a particular image or frame in such video observation or a photograph made from it.
Medicine/Medical, Biology.
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.
the image or display so obtained.
(tr) to scrutinize minutely
(tr) to glance over quickly
(tr) prosody to read or analyse (verse) according to the rules of metre and versification
(intr) prosody to conform to the rules of metre and versification
(tr) electronics to move a beam of light, electrons, etc, in a predetermined pattern over (a surface or region) to obtain information, esp either to sense and transmit or to reproduce a television image
(tr) to examine data stored on (magnetic tape, etc), usually in order to retrieve information
to examine or search (a prescribed region) by systematically varying the direction of a radar or sonar beam
physics to examine or produce or be examined or produced by a continuous charge of some variable
to scan a spectrum
med to obtain an image of (a part of the body) by means of a scanner
the act or an instance of scanning
med
the examination of a part of the body by means of a scanner
a brain scan
ultrasound scan
the image produced by a scanner
1350–1400; Middle English scannen, variant of *scanden < Late Latin scandere to scan verse, Latin: to climb ( see ascend)
When you scan a subway car to see if your friend is on it, your eyes pass quickly across the riders. When you get a scan of your knee at the doctor's office, a much more detailed picture is taken, showing your bones, tendons, and muscles. You might need a medical scan if you are in an accident or have a terrible headache. One of the most common kinds of scans is performed on a pregnant woman, to check out the size and health of her fetus. This kind of scan is called an "ultrasound" or a "sonogram." These use sound waves to take a picture of the inside of a person's body.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan - Cat scan - 2 MRI’s- Biopsy - multiple bloodwork - now at least I know what I face.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Scan your bank account, as well as Venmo and PayPal, which now allow recurring payments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025
Scan the latest market commentary and you will hear a familiar refrain: Artificial intelligence is propping up the U.S. economy.
From Barron's • Dec. 5, 2025
Scan the 100-page bill, as presently drafted, and you find nothing specifically for ex-military personnel.
From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025
Scan the table as Mohammad checks faces and names and has a quick word with a couple of teenagers.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
