the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region
"he made a thorough scan of the beach with his binoculars"
Close investigation.
"The detective carefully scanned the crime scene for any overlooked clues that could solve the case."
In plain English: A scan is a quick look over something to find specific details.
"The security guard waved me through after scanning my ticket."
examine hastily
"She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi"
conform to a metrical pattern
"The poet carefully scans each line of her sonnet to ensure every syllable conforms to the strict iambic pentameter."
move a light beam over; in electronics, to reproduce an image
"The technician used a laser scanner to quickly scan the damaged circuit board for any visible cracks before attempting repairs."
To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
"The detective stood motionless in the corner of the room and scanned every shadowed alcove for any sign of movement."
In plain English: To scan means to quickly look over something to find specific information without reading every detail carefully.
"I quickly scanned the room to find my keys on the table."
Usage: Use scan when you look over something quickly and systematically rather than examining it in detail with inspect. This verb is common for describing how eyes move across text or images to locate specific information without reading every word.
The word "scan" entered English in the late Middle Ages with the specific meaning of marking off verse to reveal its metrical structure. This usage was borrowed directly from Latin, where it originally described the act of climbing or rising before being applied to poetry analysis.