Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Scan

Scan

(skăn)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scanned
(skănd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scanning
.]
[L.
scandere
,
scansum
, to climb, to scan, akin to Skr.
skand
to spring, leap: cf. F.
scander
. Cf.
Ascend
,
Descend
,
Scale
a ladder.]
1.
To mount by steps; to go through with step by step.
[Obs.]
Nor stayed till she the highest stage had
scand
.
Spenser.
2.
Specifically
(Pros.)
, to go through with, as a verse, marking and distinguishing the feet of which it is composed; to show, in reading, the metrical structure of; to recite metrically.
3.
To go over and examine point by point; to examine with care; to look closely at or into; to scrutinize.
The actions of men in high stations are all conspicuous, and liable to be
scanned
and sifted.
Atterbury.

Webster 1828 Edition


Scan

SCAN

,
Verb.
T.
[L. ascendo. See Ascend.]
1.
To examine with critical care; to scrutinize.
The actions of men in high stations are all conspicuous, and liable to be scanned and sifted.
2.
To examine a verse by counting the feet; or according to modern usage, to recite or measure verse by distinguishing the feet in pronunciation. Thus in Latin and Greek, a hexameter verse is resolved into six feet by scanning, and the true quantities are determined.

Definition 2024


scan

scan

English

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.

Derived terms

  • forescan

Translations

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.

Translations

See also

Anagrams