Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for scanner

scanner

[ skan-er ]

noun

  1. a person or thing that scans.
  2. Also called op·ti·cal read·er [op, -ti-k, uh, l , ree, -der],. Computers. a device that scans printed, handwritten, barcode, or other visual data and encodes it into digital format. optical scanning.
  3. Photography. any device for exposing an image on film, a sensitized plate, etc., by tracing light along a series of many closely spaced parallel lines.
  4. (in aerial photography) a device for estimating the ratio of aircraft speed to aircraft altitude.
  5. a photoelectric device for scanning a picture to determine automatically the density of the hue or value in each area for transmission by wire or radio or for preparation of color process printing plates.
  6. a computer-aided electronic system using photoelectric cells to separate copy, as color illustrations, into its primary colors, correct color copy, and produce a set of color separations ready for proofing or printing.
  7. Radio. a radio receiver, used especially by police, firefighters, and the press, that continuously tunes to preselected frequencies, broadcasting any signal that it detects.
  8. Medicine/Medical, Biology. a device for examining a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material. CAT scanner, MR scanner, PET scanner, sonogram.


scanner

/ ˈskænə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that scans
  2. a device, usually electronic, used to measure or sample the distribution of some quantity or condition in a particular system, region, or area
  3. an aerial or similar device designed to transmit or receive signals, esp radar signals, inside a given solid angle of space, thus allowing a particular region to be scanned
  4. any of various devices used in medical diagnosis to obtain an image of an internal organ or part See CAT scanner nuclear magnetic resonance scanner ultrasound scanner
  5. informal.
    a television outside broadcast vehicle
  6. short for optical scanner
  7. printing an electronic device which scans printed material and converts it to digital form
“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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of scanner1

First recorded in 1550–60; scan + -er 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

The company had claimed its AI scanner, used in the entrances of thousands of US schools, hospitals and stadiums, could detect all weapons.

From BBC

After running a device that looks like an ultrasound scanner across our reporter’s stomach, a sound like a heartbeat is heard and "Dr Ruth" congratulates her on being pregnant.

From BBC

They quantified plastic bag sales by analyzing barcode scanner data on consumer purchases.

The first, in 1992, saw a country and western band perform on the car deck, as thousands of pounds were raised to help purchase a breast cancer scanner for the Western Isles.

From BBC

Counting ballots involves feeding each one into electronic scanners that tabulate their results.

From BBC

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement