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tomography

British  
/ təˈmɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

  1. any of a number of techniques used to obtain an X-ray photograph of a selected plane section of the human body or some other solid object

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tomography Scientific  
/ tō-mŏgrə-fē /
  1. Any of several radiologic techniques for making detailed three-dimensional images of a plane section of a solid object, such as the body, while blurring out the images of other planes.

  2. See also computerized axial tomography positron emission tomography


tomography Cultural  
  1. A procedure by which waves are sent through an object and computers produce images of cross sections of the object by using information on how the waves are changed. Both ultrasound and CAT scans are medical uses of this technique, but it is also widely used in science and industry.


Etymology

Origin of tomography

C20: from Greek tomē a cutting + -graphy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Price said newer security machines that TSA is installing to replace traditional X-ray machines have computed tomography capabilities, which "can do a much better job of detecting liquid-based explosives".

From BBC Sep. 10, 2026

The researchers used publicly available orbital information from Starlink satellites and applied tomography, a technique commonly associated with medical imaging, to Earth's upper atmosphere.

From Science Daily Aug. 12, 2026

Because ambient noise tomography can survey large underground regions relatively quickly and inexpensively, it may provide a useful way to search for geothermal energy and mineral resources.

From Science Daily Aug. 5, 2026

Dutch peer Royal Philips doesn’t compete in radio-oncology or positron emission tomography, but it is already seeing pressure through centralized procurement of ultrasound equipment, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 15, 2026

Computed tomography, for instance, visualized the internal structure of Egyptian mummies.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin

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