scan
part of speech
verb (scan, scans, scanned, scanning); noun (a scan, scans)
meaning for a pupil
1) To scan means to look quickly over something to find a particular piece of information («scan the page for the date»). tree →
2) To scan means to look carefully all around an area («scan the horizon»). tree →
3) To scan a picture or document means to copy it into a computer using a machine called a scanner; a shop scans barcodes to read prices. tree →
4) A scan is a medical picture of the inside of the body, made by a machine («an ultrasound scan»). tree →
5) A poem scans when its rhythm is correct. tree →
sense in the lessons
In reading lessons «scanning» is a skill: moving your eyes quickly to find a key word, name or number, while «skimming» gets the main idea. In everyday life barcodes, QR codes and tickets are scanned. In science and health, hospitals use scans (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound). Phrases: «scan for», «scan the room», «a quick scan», «baby scan».
examples
- This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
- Scan the text to find the name of the river. tree →
- The lifeguard scanned the pool for swimmers in trouble. tree →
- The checkout girl scanned the barcode. tree →
- Mum showed us the scan of the new baby. tree →
- I scanned my drawing and emailed it to Grandad. tree →
- The doctor sent him for a scan of his knee. tree →
- Scan the road both ways before you cross. tree →
- Scan the QR code to see the menu. tree →
- His keen eyes scanned the wide plain. tree →
note
Double n before -ed and -ing: «scanned», «scanning». The machine is a «scanner». Trap: scanning (looking for one detail) is different from skimming (getting the general idea).
In the corpora
- A scan picture is made by a machine that uses sound waves to see the baby inside the body without hurting.
- AI can help doctors spot patterns in scans such as X-rays; doctors still check and decide.
- Scanning means looking quickly through a text for a key word or number.
- You scan or sign a library book out and return it by the due date, because others are waiting for it.
- A QR code on an unknown poster can lead to a scam site, so ask an adult before scanning one.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «scan» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.