# tomography

/toʊˈmoʊɡɹæˌfi/ (US) · /təmˈɒɡɹəfi/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tomography
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a special way of taking X-ray pictures that shows a thin slice of the inside of a body or object. It helps doctors see details that a normal flat X-ray might miss.

For teachers: a technique for displaying a representation of a cross-section through a human body or other solid object using X-rays or ultrasound. The process involves recording the relative intensities of radiation transmitted through the object from multiple directions.

## Examples

- The doctor ordered a tomography scan to check his lungs.
- Computerized axial tomography, commonly known as a CT scan, allows surgeons to visualize internal structures in three dimensions before operating.
- Advanced industrial tomography is now utilized in engineering to detect microscopic structural flaws within solid metal components without having to dismantle the machinery.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the compound form 'computed tomography' or as the suffix '-tomography' in medical contexts.

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