Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *skend-der.
Proto-Italic *skandō
Latin scandōbor.
Middle English scanden
Middle English scanne
English scan
From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“to climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, dart, climb, scale, scan”).
Meanings
A close investigation. ▸ Of written things, a careful reading.
A close investigation. ▸ Of written things, a cursory reading: a skim.
An instance of scanning.
In the dispute with the RMT about scanning tickets, Jackson said it was the right thing to do to pay conductors something to scan tickets. Northern pays two pence per scan, Jackson noted, adding that ticket scanning helps to cut fraud and increase staff visibility. 2024 February 7, Philip Haigh, “Network News: TPE MD: consider impact of strikes on passengers”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 11:
The operators vacated the room during the scan.
The result or output of a scanning process.
The doctors looked at the scans and made a diagnosis.
(qualifier:functional programming) A higher-order function that applies a binary operation to a sequence of values, starting with an accumulator, and returns a new sequence with the results.
id pemindaian (instance of scanning) · tr tarama (instance of scanning) · ms pengimbasan (instance of scanning) · ms imbasan (result or output of a scanning process) · fr scan (result or output of a scanning process) · hu vizsgálat (result or output of a scanning process) · ro scanare (instance of scanning) · de Scan (instance of scanning) · pl skanowanie (instance of scanning) · mt skann (instance of scanning) · sv bild (result or output of a scanning process) · hu szűrés (result or output of a scanning process) · de Abtastung (instance of scanning) · pl skan (result or output of a scanning process) · pt varredura (instance of scanning) · it scansione (instance of scanning) · ro scanare (result or output of a scanning process) · ru скан (result or output of a scanning process) · hu beolvasás (instance of scanning) · ro scanat (result or output of a scanning process) · hu átvilágítás (result or output of a scanning process) · hu röntgen (result or output of a scanning process) · de Scan (result or output of a scanning process) · fi skannaus (instance of scanning) · bg скан (result or output of a scanning process) · fi skannaus (result or output of a scanning process) · bg сканиране (instance of scanning) · mi matawaitanga (result or output of a scanning process) · sh skeniranje (instance of scanning) · nrf scann'nie (instance of scanning) · ru скани́рование (instance of scanning) · hu felvétel (result or output of a scanning process) · fi kuva (result or output of a scanning process) · mi matawaitanga (instance of scanning) · hu lapolvasás (instance of scanning) · sv avsökning (instance of scanning) · id pindaian (result or output of a scanning process) · mt skann (result or output of a scanning process) · sv genomsökning (instance of scanning) · ro numerizare (instance of scanning) · ro scanerizare (instance of scanning) · hu szkennelés (instance of scanning)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *skend-der.
Proto-Italic *skandō
Latin scandōbor.
Middle English scanden
Middle English scanne
English scan
From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“to climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, dart, climb, scale, scan”).
Meanings
(transitive) To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
Yet the incident did not in the least diminish my respect for my teacher. I was by nature blind to the faults of elders. Later I came to know of many other failings of this teacher, but my regard for him remained the same. For I had learnt to carry out the orders of elders, not to scan their actions. 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter ii
She scanned the passage carefully but could not find what she was looking for.
He scanned the horizon.
Slowly, he scanned the horizon, listening, watching for the signs he had been taught. 1965 October 1, Frank Herbert, “Book III: The Prophet”, in Dune, Philadelphia, Pa.: Chilton Book Company; [Toronto], Ont.: Thomas Nelson & Sons, →OCLC, page 385:
As the 1857 to Manchester Piccadilly rolls in, I scan the windows and realise there are plenty of spare seats, so I hop aboard. The train is a '221'+'220' combo to allow for social distancing - a luxury on an XC train as normally you're playing sardines, so I make the most of it. 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68:
(transitive) To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely. ▸ To inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something.
to scan the hard drive for errors
(transitive) To look about for; to look over quickly.
(transitive) To look about for; to look over quickly. ▸ To perform lexical analysis; to tokenize.
(transitive) To create an image of something with the use of a scanner.
to scan a photograph
to scan internal organs by means of computed tomography
Pencil drawings don't scan very well.
(transitive) To read with an electronic device.
In the dispute with the RMT about scanning tickets, Jackson said it was the right thing to do to pay conductors something to scan tickets. Northern pays two pence per scan, Jackson noted, adding that ticket scanning helps to cut fraud and increase staff visibility. 2024 February 7, Philip Haigh, “Network News: TPE MD: consider impact of strikes on passengers”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 11:
to scan a barcode
to scan a QR code
(obsolete, qualifier:originally, transitive) To mount by steps; to go through with step by step.
But ere these matchless heights I dare to scan, / There is a spot should not be pass'd in vain,— / Morat ! the proud, the patriot field ! where man / May gaze on ghastly trophies of the slain,[…] 1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza LXIII, page 36:
(transitive) To read or mark so as to show a specific metre.
In such cases as these, almost any one with a good ear will "scan" the verse correctly enough without instruction. It is not proposed to give here a list of Shakspere's slurred and contracted words; […] 1886, Francis Barton Gummere, A Handbook of Poetics for Students of English Verse, page 218:
(intransitive) To conform to a metrical structure.
You're right, sir, it doesn't scan very well in the English, but in the Gaelic it's sheer poetry. Have you the Gaelic? 1998, Milton Acorn, Cedric Smith, edited by James Deahl, The Road to Charlottetown: A Play, UnMon Northland:
nl scannen (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · eo skandi (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · cmn 掃描 /扫描 (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu átvizsgál (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · mi tirotiro (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ro scruta (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fi lukea (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu átnéz (to look about for; to look over quickly) · mi karapa (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · io skanar (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu átfut (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fi skannata (to read with an electronic device) · bg изучавам (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · id memindai (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ca escanejar (to read with an electronic device) · sk skenovať (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · fi tutkia (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fi tarkistaa (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · el διερευνώ (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · fi skannata (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu beolvas (to read with an electronic device) · ar مَحَّصَ (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · sh skenirati (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · el σαρώνω (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · la percurrō (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ro explora (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · th กราดภาพ (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · el ανιχνεύω (to look about for; to look over quickly) · nl scanderen (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · pl zeskanować (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ro explora (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu szkennel (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · de scannen (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · he סָרַק (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · is skanna (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · fi silmäillä (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fi lukea (to read with an electronic device) · hu végignéz (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · sv genomsöka (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ca escorcollar (to look about for; to look over quickly) · hu végigpásztáz (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · sv avsöka (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · uk відсканува́ти (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ca escanejar (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · et otsima (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · nrf scanner (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · fr scander (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · hu rápillant (to look about for; to look over quickly) · eo skani (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · mi matawai (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · fr scanner (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · es escanear (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · de abtasten (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · es escandir (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · ro a baleia imaginea (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · hu szemügyre vesz (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ms mengimbas (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · mi matawai (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · io skandar (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · mi mātai (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · arz درس (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · hu skandál (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · es escrutar (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ro scana (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · hu vizsgál (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · sv skanna (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · it scrutare (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · pt digitalizar (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu skandálható (to conform to a metrical structure) · fi kammata (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · fr scanner (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ar مَسَحَ ضَوْئِيًّا (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · tr taratmak (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · pt escandir (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · sv läsa in (en bild) (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ru разгля́дывать (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ro numeriza (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · tr taramak (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · mi matawai (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · mi mātai (to look about for; to look over quickly) · hu ellenőriz (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · fr scannériser (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ro scaneriza (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · pl skanować (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · tl iscan (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu beolvas (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ro cerceta (to look about for; to look over quickly) · et otsima (to look about for; to look over quickly) · uk сканува́ти (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ro sonda (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ko 스캔하다 (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hy սկանավորել (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu áttekint (to look about for; to look over quickly) · mt skennja (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu beszkennel (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · de einscannen (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · he סָרַק (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · it scandire (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · bg сканирам (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · mi karapa (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · hu átvizsgál (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · nrf scanner (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · ro scana (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · arz اسكان (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · pt varrer (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · de skandieren (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · fi tutkia järjestelmällisesti (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · et skännima (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · cs skenovat (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · fi skannata (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · arz سكن (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ca escandir (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · sv avsöka (to look about for; to look over quickly) · ja スキャンする (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · nl afspeuren (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fr fouiller (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · es revisar (computing: to inspect, analyse or go over, often to find something) · ru скани́ровать (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · el εξετάζω (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · mt skannja (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · ru скандировать (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre) · hu felismertet (to read with an electronic device) · fi tähyillä (to look about for; to look over quickly) · fi tutkia pala palalta (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · it scannerizzare (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · pt escanear (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · th สแกน (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · fr numériser (create an image of something with the use of a scanner) · hu ritmusa/üteme van (to conform to a metrical structure) · nl scannen (to read with an electronic device) · ar تَمَعَّنَ (to examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely) · hu ütemez (to read or mark so as to show a specific metre)