Pronunciation: /skæn/

Definitions of scan

noun a quick examination or survey of something

Example Sentences

A1 I used a scan to check my boarding pass at the airport.

A2 She did a quick scan of the document to find the relevant information.

B1 The security guard did a thorough scan of everyone's bags before allowing them into the venue.

B2 The technician performed a scan of the computer to detect any viruses or malware.

C1 The scientist conducted a detailed scan of the area to map out the geological features.

C2 The artist used a high-resolution scan to create a digital replica of the painting.

verb to look at or examine closely and quickly

Example Sentences

A1 I scan my groceries at the self-checkout counter.

A2 She scanned the room for any signs of life.

B1 The security guard scanned my ID before letting me into the building.

B2 The doctor scanned my brain to look for any abnormalities.

C1 The researcher scanned through hundreds of documents to find relevant information for the study.

C2 The artist used a scanner to digitally scan his artwork for reproduction purposes.

Examples of scan in a Sentence

formal The doctor ordered a CT scan to get a detailed image of the patient's brain.

informal I need to scan this document and email it to you.

slang I'll just quickly scan through this book to see if there's anything interesting.

figurative She scanned the room for any signs of trouble before entering.

Grammatical Forms of scan

past tense

scanned

plural

scans

comparative

more scan

superlative

most scan

present tense

scan

future tense

will scan

perfect tense

have scanned

continuous tense

scanning

singular

scan

positive degree

scan

infinitive

to scan

gerund

scanning

participle

scanning

Origin and Evolution of scan

First Known Use: 0014 year
Language of Origin: Old Norse
Story behind the word: The word 'scan' originated from the Old Norse word 'skanna' meaning 'to examine closely'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'scan' evolved to also mean 'to analyze or look at something quickly' in addition to its original meaning of examining closely.