scan

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to look at something very closely and carefully to check every part.

v. to examine a person, object, or situation minutely and systematically.

“The security guard scanned the crowd for any suspicious behavior.”

“The customs officer scanned the passenger's face, looking for the subtle signs of nervousness that might suggest a false declaration.”

B1 · Intermediate Computing

v. to use a machine to turn a paper document or photo into a computer file.

v. to convert a physical document or image into digital data using an optical scanner.

“Can you scan these receipts and email them to the office?”

“The archivist scanned the fragile manuscripts at a high resolution to ensure that every detail was preserved for the digital library.”

C2 · Proficiency Theater Technical · Literary

v. to have a regular rhythm or beat, usually in a poem.

v. to conform to a specific metrical structure or to analyse the metre of a verse.

“This line of the poem doesn't scan properly because it has too many syllables.”

“The professor asked the students to scan the sonnet, marking the stressed and unstressed syllables to identify the iambic pentameter.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. a picture of the inside of your body made by a special machine in a hospital.

n. a diagnostic image produced by a scanner, such as an MRI, CT, or ultrasound.

“The doctor sent her for a brain scan to check the cause of her headaches.”

“The MRI scan revealed a minor ligament tear that had been missed by the initial physical examination.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a quick look over something to get a general idea.

n. an act of glancing through or over something to identify key points or specific items.

“A quick scan of the headlines told him all he needed to know.”

“After a brief scan of the executive summary, the director requested a more detailed breakdown of the projected costs.”