scanning electron microscope

noun

: an electron microscope in which a beam of focused electrons moves across the object with the secondary electrons produced by the object and the electrons scattered by the object being collected to form a three-dimensional image on a display screen

called also scanning microscope

scanning electron microscopy noun

Examples of scanning electron microscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The walls of the maze, captured with a scanning electron microscope, are only micrometers (one-millionth of a meter) long. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Dec. 2024 To measure their widths, the team used a scanning electron microscope. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024 Provided by Sachiko Amari The picture is an image of such a grain taken by a scanning electron microscope. Sachiko Amari, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2024 His equipment includes a high-temperature furnace, a vacuum chamber built from surplus parts, and a scanning electron microscope. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Dec. 2017 See all Example Sentences for scanning electron microscope 

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scanning electron microscope was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near scanning electron microscope

Cite this Entry

“Scanning electron microscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanning%20electron%20microscope. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

scanning electron microscope

noun
: an electron microscope in which a beam of focused electrons moves across the object with the secondary electrons produced by the object and the electrons scattered by the object being collected to form a three-dimensional image on a display screen

called also scanning microscope

compare transmission electron microscope
scanning electron microscopy noun

More from Merriam-Webster on scanning electron microscope

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