X-RAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does X-ray mean? 

• X-RAY (noun)
  The noun X-RAY has 2 senses:

1. electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target

2. a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis

  Familiarity information: X-RAY used as a noun is rare.

• X-RAY (verb)
  The verb X-RAY has 2 senses:

1. examine by taking x-rays

2. take an x-ray of something or somebody

  Familiarity information: X-RAY used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• X-RAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

roentgen ray; X-radiation; X-ray; X ray

Hypernyms ("X-ray" is a kind of...):

ionizing radiation (high-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes)

electromagnetic radiation; electromagnetic wave; nonparticulate radiation (radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

roentgenogram; X-ray; X-ray photograph; X-ray picture; X ray

Hypernyms ("X-ray" is a kind of...):

radiogram; radiograph; shadowgraph; skiagram; skiagraph (a photographic image produced on a radiosensitive surface by radiation other than visible light (especially by X-rays or gamma rays))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "X-ray"):

angiocardiogram (a series of X rays representing the action of the heart and its blood vessels after the injection of a radiopaque substance)

angiogram (an X-ray representation of blood vessels made after the injection of a radiopaque substance)

arteriogram (an X ray of an artery filled with a contrast medium)

arthrogram (an X ray of a joint after the injection of a contrast medium)

encephalogram; pneumoencephalogram (an X ray of the brain made by replacing spinal fluid with a gas (usually oxygen) to improve contrast)

hysterosalpingogram (X ray of the uterus and Fallopian tubes; usually done in diagnosing infertility (to see if there any blockages))

mammogram (X-ray film of the soft tissue of the breast)

myelogram (X-ray film of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots and subarachnoid space)

pyelogram (an X ray of the kidneys and ureters)

phlebogram; venogram (an X ray of a vein injected with a radiopaque contrast medium)

• X-RAY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they x-ray    ... he / she / it x-rays   
Past simple: x-rayed   
Past participle: x-rayed   
-ing form: x-raying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Examine by taking x-rays

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "x-ray" is one way to...):

examine; see (observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

X-raying (obtaining images by the use of X rays)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take an x-ray of something or somebody

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The doctor x-rayed my chest

Hypernyms (to "x-ray" is one way to...):

photograph; shoot; snap (record on photographic film)

Domain category:

photography; picture taking (the act of taking and printing photographs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Did he x-ray his foot?

Derivation:

X-raying (obtaining images by the use of X rays)

 Context examples 

These include urine tests, x-rays, and an examination of the bladder wall with a scope called a cystoscope.

(Bladder Diseases, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

An x-ray of the spinal cord after an injection of dye into the space between the lining of the spinal cord and brain.

(Myelogram, NCI Dictionary)

A series of x-rays of the kidneys.

(Nephrotomogram, NCI Dictionary)

The X-ray examination of the blood vessels or chambers of the heart.

(Angiography, NCI Thesaurus)

A procedure to x-ray blood vessels.

(Angiography, NCI Dictionary)

Never mind expense. Put him under the X-ray—anything.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The person receives an injection of dye to outline the vessels on the x-ray.

(Angiogram, NCI Dictionary)

The person receives an injection of a dye that outlines the vessels on the x-ray.

(Arteriogram, NCI Dictionary)

A compact source of X-rays that sits near the black hole, called the corona, has moved closer to the black hole over a period of just days.

(NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

Supermassive black holes draw gas and matter into a disk around them, heating the disk to roaring temperatures of millions of degrees and blasting out high-energy, visible, ultraviolet and X-ray light.

(The Most Luminous Galaxy in Universe, NASA)