[W/K] :: scanner

  scanner
       n 1: someone who scans verse to determine the number and prosodic
            value of the syllables
       2: an electronic device that generates a digital representation
          of an image for data input to a computer [syn: digital
          scanner, image scanner]
       3: a radar dish that rotates or oscillates in order to scan a
          broad area
       4: a radio receiver that that moves automatically across some
          selected range of frequencies looking for for some signal
          or condition; "they used scanners to monitor police radio
          channels" [syn: electronic scanner]

  scanner
       
          1. An input device that takes in an optical image and
          digitises it into an electronic image represented as binary
          data.  This can be used to create a computerised version of a
          photo or illustration.
       
          A scanner may be linked to optical character recognition
          software allowing printed documents to be converted to
          electronic text without having to type them in at a keyboard.
       
          2. lexical analyser.
       
          (1995-02-14)