tomography: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Technical/Specialist)Medical/Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “tomography” mean?
A medical imaging technique that produces detailed cross-sectional images (slices) of the body or an object.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical imaging technique that produces detailed cross-sectional images (slices) of the body or an object.
Any imaging method that reconstructs a two-dimensional slice or three-dimensional representation from a series of projections taken from different angles; used in medicine, materials science, and geophysics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, usage, or spelling.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and restricted to technical/medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “tomography” in a Sentence
[Subject] uses/employs tomography to [verb]...Tomography of [object/body part] revealed...[Noun] was examined/diagnosed via tomography.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tomography” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient was tomographed to locate the tumour precisely.
- Researchers plan to tomograph the ancient artefact.
American English
- The patient was scanned using tomography to locate the tumor.
- The team will perform tomography on the core sample.
adverb
British English
- The organ was examined tomographically.
- The data was acquired tomographically.
American English
- The structure was visualized tomographically.
- Images were generated tomographically.
adjective
British English
- The tomographic reconstruction clearly showed the fracture.
- We need tomographic imaging for a proper diagnosis.
American English
- The tomographic images revealed a blockage.
- Tomographic data is essential for this analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of selling/manufacturing medical imaging equipment.
Academic
Common in medical, physics, and engineering research papers discussing imaging techniques.
Everyday
Very rare. Typically encountered only when a doctor explains a recommended medical procedure.
Technical
The primary context. Ubiquitous in radiology, medical diagnostics, non-destructive testing, and geophysical surveying.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tomography”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tomography”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tomography”
- Using 'tomography' as a countable noun for the image (*'The doctor showed me the tomography.'*) instead of 'tomogram' or 'scan'.
- Misspelling as 'tomography' (omitting the 'o').
- Confusing 'tomography' with 'radiography' (which produces 2D overlay images).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A standard X-ray produces a single 2D overlay image. Tomography uses many X-rays (or other signals) from different angles to computationally reconstruct detailed cross-sectional slices, eliminating the overlap of structures.
It comes from the Greek word 'tomos', meaning 'slice', 'section', or 'to cut'. This refers to the method's ability to visualise the body in virtual slices.
No. While most common in medical imaging (CT, PET), the technique is also used in other fields like industrial testing (to inspect welds), archaeology (to scan artefacts), and geophysics (seismic tomography to study the Earth's interior).
'Tomography' is the name of the imaging technique or process. A 'tomogram' (or 'tomographic image') is the actual cross-sectional picture produced by that technique.
A medical imaging technique that produces detailed cross-sectional images (slices) of the body or an object.
Tomography is usually medical/technical/academic in register.
Tomography: in British English it is pronounced /təˈmɒɡ.rə.fi/, and in American English it is pronounced /təˈmɑː.ɡrə.fi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TOMO-GRAPHY as "TOMO" (from Greek 'tomos' = slice/cut) + "GRAPHY" (writing/recording). It's the technique of 'writing or recording slices' of the body.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IN SLICES (The body/object is metaphorically 'sliced' like a loaf of bread to see inside each layer without physical cutting).
Practice
Quiz
What is the fundamental principle behind tomography?