Children's, Intermediate and Advanced Online English Dictionary & Thesaurus

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parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: scanned, scanning, scans
definition 1: to read or look over quickly; skim.
I scanned the newspapers for recent murders.
browse, leaf through, look, skim, survey
similar words:
peruse, read, run down
definition 2: to look at or examine carefully; scrutinize.
We are scanning the area for enemy planes.
explore, scour, scrutinize, survey
similar words:
examine, inspect, investigate, peruse, probe, scope, search, sift, study
similar words:
examine, explore, inspect, sweep, track
definition 4: to check automatically for recorded data, as on a magnetic tape.
definition 5: to read (verse) for metrical rhythm or patterns.
similar words:
analyze, read
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: of verse, to have the correct or accepted metrical pattern.
The poem does not scan.
definition 2: to analyze the metrical structure of verse.
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part of speech: noun
definition 1: an act, process, or instance of scanning.
examination, perusal, scrutiny
definition 2: an instance or the process of using a scanner, esp. a medical scanner that produces images of living tissue.
definition 3: an image produced in this way.
a brain scan
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derivation: scannable (adj.)
Word Builder: scan +
  • scanner:
    a machine connected to a computer that turns an image into data.
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