Definition

Noun: A cat scanner is a type of tomograph. It is a medical imaging machine that constructs a detailed three-dimensional (3-D) model of an object, such as a part of the human body. It does this by combining many individual X-ray images taken from different angles, which are like parallel planes or slices.

Usage

The term cat scanner is used to refer to the physical machine itself, which is commonly found in hospitals and medical clinics. - The doctor ordered a cat scanner to get a better look at the patient's internal injuries. - Modern cat scanners can produce very high-resolution images very quickly.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used interchangeably with CT scanner, where "CT" stands for "Computed Tomography." Cat scanner is an older term derived from "CAT," which stands for "Computerized Axial Tomography."
• It is typically used in a medical or technical context.

Variants and Related Words

• CT scanner (noun): The more modern and commonly used term for the same type of imaging device.
• Tomograph (noun): A general term for any device that produces images of sections through an object.
• Computed Tomography (CT) (noun): The full name of the imaging technique performed by a cat scanner.
• CAT scan (noun): The scan or image produced by a cat scanner.

Synonyms

• CT scanner
• Computed tomography scanner

Notes

• Cat scanner is a compound noun. The primary definition and examples above are for this specific compound term as a single unit referring to the medical device.
• The word "cat" in this term is not related to the animal; it is an acronym.

Noun

1. a tomograph that constructs a 3-D model of an object by combining parallel planes