Xray

1 of 3

communications code word

used as a code word for the letter x

x-ray

2 of 3

verb

x-rayed; x-raying; x-rays
often capitalized

transitive verb

: to examine, treat, or photograph with X-rays

X-ray

3 of 3

noun

1
: any of the electromagnetic radiations that have an extremely short wavelength of less than 100 angstroms and have the properties of penetrating various thicknesses of all solids, of producing secondary radiations by impinging on material bodies, and of acting on photographic films and plates as light does
2
: a photograph obtained by use of X-rays
X-ray adjective

Examples of Xray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The real heroes, however, were the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that were x-rayed before fitment to ensure perfect structural integrity. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Among them are essential medical supplies: anesthesia machines and anesthetics, crutches, generators, ventilators, x-ray machines and oxygen cylinders. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 An Italian team had hoped to make history by using high-tech tools — electron microscopy, spectroscopy and micro x-rays — to reveal the cellular structure of one of the world’s oldest reptiles. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 The Medical Exams Since 1987, doctors with IU Health, a healthcare system affiliated with Indiana University School of Medicine, perform x-rays, MRIs, echocardiograms, EKGs, blood and drug tests, and other exams at each year’s Combine. Chris Deubert, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In 2020, the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri posted a video on Facebook in which Dr. Chris Hanley, assistant director of animal health, said one of the zoo's alligators had what appeared to be, based on x-rays, a coin inside her stomach. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024 The archaeologists took x-rays of the skeletons in the tombs and compared them to detailed descriptions about the Macedonian royals, including height, weight, injuries and physical anomalies, according to Live Science. Brie Stimson, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2024 After the bucket was removed, the coyote was assessed further, with fluids administered and x-rays taken. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2024 Two days later, investigators talked with the man in the hospital and received x-rays of his injuries. Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2024
Noun
Her case data, dental X-rays and description of her were uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in 2011, state police said. Zenebou Sylla, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Bailey underwent X-rays, which showed there was no fracture. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 So the parents -- living in Melissa, Texas, at the time -- took their boy for X-rays, and doctors noticed what appeared to be a calcium deposit on the right knee. Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 Broadly speaking, railroads must tell the government about any on-the-job injury that requires medical care beyond diagnostic procedures like X-rays, that requires an employee to miss a day of work, or that lands an employee on light duty. Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, right-hander Blake Treinen had X-rays and a CT scan after being hit in the right side by a line drive during Saturday’s game. Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2024 Antioxidants protect cells from destruction by free radicals naturally produced in the body when food is broken down, or when exposed to tobacco smoke, industrial chemicals, radiation from X-rays, air pollutants, etc. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024 The scanners used high-energy X-rays to look past the organism’s scales, fur, or skin to view the dense bone structure beneath. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 This new system also allows officers to monitor X-ray machines remotely, potentially reducing the number of TSA agents needed at each checkpoint. Carter Evans, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Xray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Communications Code Word

1943, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1899, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Xray was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near Xray

x-ray

Xray

X-ray

Cite this Entry

“Xray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Xray. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

x-ray

1 of 2 verb
ˈeks-ˌrā
often capitalized X
: to examine, treat, or photograph with X-rays

X-ray

2 of 2 noun
ˈeks-ˌrā
1
: an electromagnetic radiation of an extremely short wavelength that is able to penetrate various thicknesses of solids and to act on photographic film as light does
2
: a photograph taken by the use of X-rays
X-ray adjective
Etymology

Noun

from German X-Strahl "X-ray," from the use of x to represent an unknown value

Word Origin
In 1895, a German scientist, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, was experimenting with an electric current passing through a vacuum in a glass tube. He found that a piece of material that glows only when electricity passes through it began to glow even though it was not inside the tube. Röntgen tried to shield the material from the tube. However, he found that the material glowed even when it was shielded by paper or wood. Only a shield of metal stopped the glowing. He guessed that an unknown invisible ray created inside the glass tube was causing this to happen. Since he knew nothing about this mysterious ray, Röntgen called it X-Strahl in German, which translates as X-ray in English. He was using the letter x, which had long been used in mathematics for an unknown value.

Medical Definition

x-ray

1 of 2 transitive verb
often capitalized X
: to examine, treat, or photograph with X-rays

X-ray

2 of 2 noun
1
: any of the electromagnetic radiations of the same nature as visible radiation but of an extremely short wavelength less than 100 angstroms that is produced by bombarding a metallic target with fast electrons in vacuum or by transition of atoms to lower energy states and that has the properties of ionizing a gas upon passage through it, of penetrating various thicknesses of all solids, of producing secondary radiations by impinging on material bodies, of acting on photographic films and plates as light does, and of causing fluorescent screens to emit light

called also roentgen ray

2
: a photograph obtained by use of X-rays
a chest X-ray
X-ray adjective
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