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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

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