scanner
scanner — noun
1. a device that takes detailed internal images of the human body for medical diagn
a device that takes detailed internal images of the human body for medical diagnosis, or an electronic reader that decodes bar codes or labels on products or travel documents.
The hospital just bought a new CT scanner that produces clearer pictures of the brain.
CT scanner: medical imaging device for body scans
Jude held his boarding pass under the self-service scanner at the airport gate.
self-service scanner: code-reading device used by the public
The bar-code scanner at the supermarket read every item in Linh's shopping basket.
The guard asked passengers to put their bags through the X-ray scanner at the entrance.
用法筆記
In medical contexts, a scanner usually refers to a CT or MRI machine. In retail or travel, it usually means a bar-code or boarding-pass reader.
常見錯誤
2. a machine that copies a physical document or photograph by turning it into a dig
a machine that copies a physical document or photograph by turning it into a digital file that can be opened, changed, or saved on a computer.
Lucía placed the old photo on the flatbed scanner and saved a digital copy.
flatbed scanner: a common type of document scanner with a glass surface
The office scanner can process up to thirty pages per minute in black and white.
Pedro used a portable scanner to turn his notes into text on his computer.
Nora scanned the contract with her desktop scanner and emailed the PDF to her lawyer.
- flatbed scanner
a specific subtype with a flat glass surface for placing documents
- image scanner
formal or technical term for the same device
用法筆記
Frequently combined with flatbed, sheet-fed, or portable to describe the type of device.
常見錯誤
3. a device that receives radio signals and automatically searches across many chan
a device that receives radio signals and automatically searches across many channels, pausing on any channel where a transmission is active, often used to follow police, fire, or aircraft communications.
Bilal tuned his radio scanner to the local police frequency to listen to traffic reports.
radio scanner: automatic frequency-scanning receiver
During the storm, many residents used scanners to follow emergency dispatches from the fire department.
Kabir's scanner picked up a distress call from a small plane near the coast.
Asher kept a scanner in his truck to hear highway patrol updates during his drive.
- police scanner
colloquial term for a scanner used to listen to law enforcement channels
- frequency scanner
technical term emphasizing the scanning function
用法筆記
Commonly used by hobbyists, journalists, and emergency personnel to monitor police, fire, and air-traffic communications.
4. a rotating radar dish or antenna that sends out radio signals and picks up their
a rotating radar dish or antenna that sends out radio signals and picks up their reflections to detect objects such as ships, aircraft, or weather patterns.
The airport's radar scanner tracked the approaching aircraft from over sixty kilometres away.
radar scanner: rotating antenna for detecting distant objects
The ship's radar scanner rotated, searching for other vessels in the fog.
Weather forecasters use radar scanners to track the movement of large storm systems.
The coast guard uses its radar scanner to find boats in trouble during rough weather.
- radar dish
emphasizes the physical shape of the antenna
- radar antenna
technical term focusing on the signal-transmitting function
用法筆記
Subject is usually an airport control tower, ship, weather station, or military installation.