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X-ray

Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See ray.
  • To take a radiograph of; apply X-rays to the study of (an object, such as a portion of the human body).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb to examine by means of X-rays; to irradiate with X-rays.
  • noun (Physics) originally, any of the rays produced when cathode rays strike upon surface of a solid (as a copper target or the wall of the vacuum tube); now defined as electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 0.1 to 10 nanometers. X-rays are noted for their penetration of many opaque substances, as wood and flesh, their action on photographic plates, and their fluorescent effects. They were called X rays by their discoverer, W. K. Röntgen, but were also referred to for some time as Roentgen rays. The term X-ray has become the most common designation. They also ionize gases, but cannot be reflected, or polarized, or deflected by a magnetic field. They are used in examining objects opaque to visible light, as for imaging bones or other structures inside the human body, and for detecting flaws in metal objects, such as in welds.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The letter X in the ICAO spelling alphabet.
  • noun Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects and can expose photographic film.
  • noun A radiograph: a photograph made with X-rays.
  • noun An X-ray machine.
  • noun The letter X in the ICAO spelling alphabet.
  • verb transitive, informal To take a radiograph of; to obtain an image of using X-ray radiation, especially for the purpose of medical diagnostic evaluation.
  • adjective Of or having to do with X-rays.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis
  • noun electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target
  • noun a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis
  • noun electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target
  • verb take an x-ray of something or somebody
  • verb examine by taking x-rays

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Transliteration of German X-Strahl, coined by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen upon his discovery of the rays in 1895, x signifying their unknown nature.

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Examples

  • Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows scientists to visualize almost every atom in a protein, this mutant proved very unusual:

    The Edge of Evolution Michael J. Behe 2007

  • Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows scientists to visualize almost every atom in a protein, this mutant proved very unusual:

    The Edge of Evolution Michael J. Behe 2007

  • Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows scientists to visualize almost every atom in a protein, this mutant proved very unusual:

    The Edge of Evolution Michael J. Behe 2007

  • Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows scientists to visualize almost every atom in a protein, this mutant proved very unusual:

    The Edge of Evolution Michael J. Behe 2007

  • It had already begun to fill, so Richardson nodded his approval and told the nurse to call X-ray to send up a portable machine to make sure the blockage was gone.

    Coyote Medicine M.D. Lewis Mebl-Madrona 1997

  • It had already begun to fill, so Richardson nodded his approval and told the nurse to call X-ray to send up a portable machine to make sure the blockage was gone.

    Coyote Medicine M.D. Lewis Mebl-Madrona 1997

  • "There is an evacuation zone, that means very few people are going to get doses even comparable to a chest X-ray, which is a pretty low radiation dose," Brenner added.

    Breaking News: CBS News 2011

  • The ID24 uses a technique known as X-ray absorption spectroscopy which determines the local geometric and electronic structure of matter by identifying which elements are present given their rates of absorbing X-rays.

    Gizmodo Andrew Tarantola 2011

  • I review Harold’s chest X-ray, which is not perfect but still looks much better than the boy it represents.

    Between Expectations Md Meghan Maclean Weir 2011

  • I review Harold’s chest X-ray, which is not perfect but still looks much better than the boy it represents.

    Between Expectations Md Meghan Maclean Weir 2011

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