[n] the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region; "he made a thorough scan of the beach with his binoculars"
[v] obtain data from magnetic tapes; "This dictionary can be read by the computer"
[v] glance over or read superficially
[v] read metrically; "scan verses"
[v] make a wide, sweeping search of; "The beams scanned the night sky"
[v] move a light beam over; in electronics, to reproduce an image
[v] examine hastily
[v] examine minutely or intensely
[v] conform to a metrical pattern; of poetic verse