scan

Etymology

From Middle English scannen, for *scanden < Old French escandir (“to climb, scan”), from Latin scandō (“I climb”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skæn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æn

Verb

scan (third-person singular simple present scans, present participle scanning, simple past and past participle scanned)

1. To examine sequentially, part by part.
2. (computing) To create a digital copy of an image using a scanner.
3. To look about for.

   He scanned the horizon.

4. (poetry) To fit or conform to a specific meter.
5. (obsolete) To mount by steps; to go through with step by step.

Noun

scan (plural scans)

1. An instance of scanning.

   The operators vacated the room during the scan.

2. The result or output of a scanning process.

   The doctors looked at the scans and made a diagnosis.

See also

• pan and scan
• scanlate
• scanlation
• scanlator
• scanner

Further reading

• scan in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• scan in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• scan at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• CNAs, CNSA, NCSA, NSCA, cans