# scan

> English word · Verb · IPA /skæn/ · frequency rank #6,412

## Definitions
1. To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
2. To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
3. To look about for; to look over quickly.
4. To look about for; to look over quickly.
5. To create an image of something with the use of a scanner.
6. To read with an electronic device.
7. To mount by steps; to go through with step by step.
8. To read or mark so as to show a specific metre.
9. To conform to a metrical structure.

## Etymology
From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“I climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, dart, climb, scale, scan”).

## Easily confused with
- **son** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-son)
- **sea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sea)
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sun)
- **sin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sin)
- **sen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sen)
- **spa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-spa)
- **SCI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sci)
- **sha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sha)
- **STA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sta)
- **sia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sia)
- **ska** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-ska)
- **syn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-syn)
- **SMA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sma)
- **SoA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-soa)
- **SSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-ssa)
- **SLA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sla)
- **SCC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-scc)
- **SSN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-ssn)
- **SCP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-scp)
- **SFA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scan-vs-sfa)

## Common misspellings (6)
`csan`, `sacn`, `scann`, `sccan`, `scna`, `sscan`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scan