Health / A2

EKSR-ay/ˈeks reɪ/

An x-ray is a hospital photograph of the inside of the body: have an x-ray, an x-ray of the chest, x-ray results. Scan can mean a different machine picture (CT, MRI). Photograph is of the outside. Hyphenate x-ray. Do not write xray as one word in careful British English, or x-ray for a holiday photo.

Meaning

A photograph of the inside of the body, used in hospitals.

Examples

• “The doctor sent him for an x-ray of his wrist.”
• “The nurse took an x-ray of his ankle after the fall.”
• “She waited an hour for the x-ray department.”

Good to know

have an x-ray / an x-ray of + body part. Other pictures: scan. Hyphen: x-ray.

Topics

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