x-ray

/ˈɛksˌreɪ/

Other forms: x-rayed; x-rays

To x-ray something is to take pictures of the inside of your body. Doctors x-ray patients all the time.

You've probably gotten x-rayed by a doctor, and maybe you saw the weird-looking pictures — x-rays — of what the inside of your chest, head, or leg looked like. Doctors x-ray patients to see if a bone is broken or look for serious conditions like cancer. Dentists will x-ray your mouth to get a better look at your teeth. When they x-ray you, you'll often wear some lead over part of your body, because the radiation in x-rays can be dangerous.

Definitions of x-ray

1. verb

   take an x-ray of something or somebody
   type of:

   photograph, shoot, snap

   record on photographic film
2. verb

   examine by taking x-rays
   type of:

   examine, see

   observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect
3. noun

   electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target
   synonyms: X ray, X-radiation, X-ray, roentgen ray

   type 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
4. noun

   a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis
   synonyms: X ray, X-ray, X-ray photograph, X-ray picture, roentgenogram

   types:

   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

   IVP, intravenous pyelogram

   X-ray picture of the kidneys and ureters after injection of a radiopaque dye

   lymphangiogram

   an angiogram of the lymph nodes and lymph vessels made after the injection of a radiopaque substance

   type 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)