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check definition

check (c̸hek)

noun

  1. a sudden stop; abrupt halt
  2. any restraint or control put upon action
  3. a person or thing that restrains or controls
  4. a supervision of accuracy, efficiency, etc.
    1. a test, comparison, examination, etc. to determine if something is as it should be
    2. a standard or sample used in making such a determination
  5. a mark (✓) to show approval or verification of something, or to call attention to it
  6. ☆ an identification ticket or other token enabling one to claim an item left in a checkroom, etc. a hat check
  7. ☆ one's bill at a restaurant or bar
  8. Now Rare a gambling chip
  9. a written order to a bank to pay the stated amount of money from one's account
    1. a pattern of small squares like that of a chessboard
    2. one of these squares
  10. a fabric with such a pattern
  11. a small split, crack, or chink
  12. Obsolete a rebuke; reprimand
  13. Chess the condition of a king that is in danger of capture on the opponent's next move: when in such a condition, one's king must, if possible, be protected
  14. Hockey a blocking or bumping of an opponent

Etymology: ME chek < OFr eschec, eschac, a check at chess, repulse < ML scaccus, scahus < Pers šāh, king, principal piece in a game of chess (see shah); prob. sense development: king in danger — hostile action — restraining action — means of restraint or control

interjection

  1. Informal agreed; I understand; right; OK
  2. Chess used to signify that one's opponent's king is in check

transitive verb

  1. to cause to stop suddenly; halt abruptly
  2. to hold back; restrain; control
  3. to rebuff, repulse, or rebuke
  4. to test, measure, verify, or control by investigation, comparison, or examination check the accounts
  5. to mark with a check (✓)
  6. to mark with a pattern of squares
  7. ☆ to deposit or receive for deposit temporarily, as in a checkroom
  8. ☆ to get (esp. luggage) cleared for shipment
  9. to make chinks or cracks in
  10. Agric. to plant in checkrows
  11. Chess to place (an opponent's king) in check
  12. Hockey to block or bump (an opponent)
  13. Naut. to reduce the strain on (a line) by letting it out gradually

intransitive verb

  1. ☆ to agree with one another, item for item the accounts check
  2. ☆ to investigate in order to determine the condition, validity, etc. of something: often with on
  3. ☆ to draw a check on a bank account
  4. to crack in small checks cheap paint may check
  5. to stop or halt; specif., to pause, as a hunting dog, to pick up the scent
  6. Falconry to turn from the pursuit of one prey to follow a lesser one (with at)
  7. Poker to decline one's chance to open a round of betting

adjective

  1. used to check or verify a check experiment
  2. having a crisscross pattern; checked
check Idioms

check in

  1. to register at a hotel, convention, etc.
  2. Informal to report, as by presenting oneself check in at the office

check off

to mark as verified, examined, etc.

check out

  1. to settle one's bill and leave a hotel, hospital, etc.
  2. to add up the prices of purchases and collect the total: said of a cashier, as in a supermarket
    1. to examine and verify or approve
    2. to prove to be accurate, in sound condition, etc. upon examination
  3. to draw (money) from a bank by check
  4. to register items to be loaned out, as books from a library
  5. Slang to die

check up on

to examine the record, character, etc. of; investigate

in check

in restraint; under control

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
check Synonyms

check

n.

  1. An order on a bank

    money order, draft, letter of credit, traveler's check, bank check, teller's check, cashier's check, counter check, note, remittance, deposition; see also draft 5, money 1.

  2. A restraint

    control, limit, curb, rein; see restraint 2.

  3. An examination

    test, inspection, investigation, analysis; see comparison 1, examination 1, 3, test.

  4. The symbol√

    cross, ex, sign, line, stroke, score, dot; see also mark 1.

  5. A pattern in squares

    tartan, patchwork, quilt, diaper, checkered design, checkerboard, houndstooth check; see also plaid.

  6. A reversal

    rebuff, obstruction, trouble; see defeat 3, impediment 1.

in check

controlled, under control, checked; see restrained.


check

v.

  1. To slacken the pace

    curb, hinder, impede, arrest, moderate, obstruct, reduce, slacken, stay, restrain, choke, bottleneck, cause a bottleneck, deadlock, slow down, block, withhold, weaken, lessen, brake, keep back, cog, anchor, rein in; see also halt 2, hinder.

    Antonyms speed, hasten*, urge on.

  2. To bring under control

    bridle, repress, inhibit, control, curb, restrain, checkmate, counteract, discourage, repulse, neutralize, bar, suppress, squelch, rebuff, snub; see also restrain 1.

    Antonyms liberate*, advance*, encourage. *

  3. To determine accuracy

    review, monitor, examine, inspect, verify, validate, balance accounts, balance the books, keep account of, correct, compare, find out, investigate, count, tell, call the roll, take account of, take stock, double-check, go through, go over with a fine-toothed comb*; see also examine 1, verify.

  4. To halt

    hold, terminate, cut short; see halt 2, stop 1.

  5. To mark

    indicate, tick, tick off, stamp; see mark 1, 2. See syn. study at restrain.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

check Usage Examples

Object

  • availability: Please telephone the office in advance to check availability.

Converse of object

  • please: Some details are already available in our new Price Lists, please check that you are using the latest ones with 06 version numbers.

Preposition: for

  • leak: Clean the tank: Clean the tank, check for leaks, then empty it.

Adjective modifier

  • thorough: A thorough check of all the mains wiring found one loose earth wire.

Preposition: into

  • motel: But before I even checked into the motel, I knew that something or someone might cause me to loose my nerve.

Modifies a noun

  • availability: To check on availability please click on " check availability " above prices.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: Don't forget to check out all the books on our.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • out: Check out the taster below to see what you could be reading about in our latest issue!

Used with why or when

  • which: Check which pages at your site have been indexed by various search engines?

Preposition: with

  • consulate: Holders of non-British Citizen passports are STRONGLY advised to check with the relevant consulate to clarify if a visa is required.

Noun used with modifier

  • reality: Soccer: Kevin's reality check Soccer: Brown stands tall to keep.. .
check usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"check." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/check>

APA Style

check. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/check

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