optical scanner

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablecomputing

   A device that uses light to read printed text or images and turn them into digital data.

   Grammar: Countable: say a scanner or two scanners; it is often shortened to scanner in everyday speech.

   Patterns

   • an optical scanner reads something
   • use an optical scanner to do something
   • a handheld optical scanner

   The library uses an optical scanner to copy old newspapers.

   She passed each page through an optical scanner and saved it as a PDF.

   An optical scanner at the checkout reads the barcode in a second.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A machine that captures a picture of an object by shining light on it, used in shops and factories.

   Grammar: Countable; often followed by of or for when you say what it scans.

   Patterns

   • an optical scanner for something
   • an optical scanner that scans something

   The factory installed an optical scanner for checking the shape of each part.

   This optical scanner measures the width of the pipe without touching it.

Word forms

Common combinations

handheld optical scanner

A handheld optical scanner makes it easy to record stock in the warehouse.

optical scanner software

The optical scanner software turns the picture into editable text.

run something through an optical scanner

He ran the contract through an optical scanner before emailing it.

optical scanner reads a barcode

The optical scanner reads a barcode and sends the price to the till.

high-resolution optical scanner

A high-resolution optical scanner keeps fine details in old photographs.

Synonyms and how they differ

scanner

The short everyday form; use it in speech unless you need to be precise about the technology.

digitizer

A more technical word for a device that converts pictures or signals into digital form.

reader

Broader and vaguer; a reader may only read data, while an optical scanner also captures images.

Word family

scan verb

To copy or examine something with a scanner or with your eyes.

scanning noun

The process of using a scanner or of looking over something quickly.

scannable adjective

Able to be read or captured by a scanner.

Commonly confused: optical scanner or optical reader?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “optical scanner”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words