imaging

American  

[im-uh-jing] / ˈɪm ə dʒɪŋ /

noun

1. Psychology. a technique in which one uses mental images to control bodily processes and thus ease pain or to succeed in some endeavor that one has visualized in advance.

2. Medicine/Medical. the use of computerized axial tomography, sonography, or other specialized techniques and instruments to obtain pictures of the interior of the body, especially those including soft tissues.

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imaging Scientific  

/ ĭm′ĭ-jĭng /

1. The creation of visual representations of objects, such as a body parts or celestial bodies, for the purpose of medical diagnosis or data collection, using any of a variety of usually computerized techniques. Within the field of medicine, important imaging technologies include compuertized axial tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography.

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Etymology

Origin of imaging

First recorded in 1660–70, for the earlier sense “imagination”; image + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

When Google first invested in Elon Musk’s SpaceX over a decade ago, it was making a bet on satellite-internet and imaging.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

One satellite imaging expert told BBC Verify that companies like Planet that have military contracts can sometimes implement "voluntary compliance" requests that are actually "driven by commercial incentive structures".

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Since then, perovskites have also shown promise in LEDs, as well as X-ray detection and imaging technologies.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

None of those companies is materially involved in the launch, but that group of six represents the end-to-end space economy, including launch services, parts and satellite supply, and applications including Earth imaging and communications.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

We line up outside the Hub by last name and proceed through the security check—full-body scanners and luggage imaging like at the airport, but with a ticket to nowhere.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed