# scan

/ˈskæn/ (US) · /skˈæn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scan
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. to look quickly for information

verb · CEFR B1

to look through a text or an area quickly to find a specific piece of information.

For teachers: to glance over or through a text or space hastily in order to locate specific data or features.

- I scanned the list of names to see if I had passed the test.
- She scanned the horizon for any sign of the approaching vessel, her eyes moving rapidly across the break in the waves.

### 2. to examine carefully

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to make a digital copy

verb · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to follow a rhythm

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. a medical image

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. a quick look

noun · CEFR B2

a quick look over something to get a general idea.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The doctor ordered a brain scan to check for injuries.
- After a quick scan of the morning headlines, she realized the train strike would delay her commute.
- Advanced medical imaging provides a high-resolution scan that allows surgeons to map out delicate procedures with significantly higher precision than traditional X-rays allowed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.