to stop or arrest the motion of suddenly or forcibly: He checked the horse at the edge of the cliff.
to restrain; hold in restraint or control: They built a high wall to check the tides.
to cause a reduction, as in rate or intensity; diminish: The new measures checked the rapidity with which the epidemic was spreading.
to investigate or verify as to correctness: She checked the copy against the original.
to make an inquiry into, search through, etc.: We checked the files, but the letter was missing.
to inspect or test the performance, condition, safety, etc., of (something): Check a used car thoroughly before buying it.
to mark (something) so as to indicate examination, correctness, preference, etc. (often followed by off): Please check the correct answer. They checked off the names of people they wanted to invite.
to leave in temporary custody: Check your umbrellas at the door.
to accept for temporary custody: We accept responsibility for any article we check here.
to send (baggage) on a passenger's ticket, usually on the same carrier used by the passenger, for pickup at the destination: We checked two trunks through to Portland.
to accept (baggage) for conveyance, and to convey, under the privilege of a passenger's ticket: Check this trunk to Portland.
to mark with or in a pattern of squares: to check fabric.
Agriculture. to plant in checkrows.
Chess. to place (an opponent's king) under direct attack.
Ice Hockey. to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent).Compare back-check, fore-check.
Baseball. (of a batter) to hold back on (a swing of the bat) just after the swing has been started: The umpire is saying Cruz did check his swing, so that’ll be ball three.See also checked swing.
Baseball. (of a pitcher) to turn and look at (a base runner) to inhibit the runner from leading: Lopez checks the runner on second, looks back at Hamilton, and fires another sidearm pitch.
verb (used without object)
to prove to be right; correspond accurately:The reprint checks with the original, item for item.
to make an inquiry, investigation, etc., as for verification (often followed by up, into, etc.): He checked to make sure his answer was correct. Check into the matter.
to make a sudden stop; pause: The horse checked before he jumped.
Chess. to make a move that puts the opponent's king under direct attack.
Baseball. (of a batter) to hold back on a swing of the bat just after the swing has been started: From our perspective, it’s hard to tell whether he checked or not.See also checked swing.
to crack or split, usually in small checks: Painted surfaces may check with age.
Poker. to decline to initiate the betting in a betting round, usually to force another player to make the first bet rather than raise it.
Hunting. (of hounds) to stop, especially because the line of scent has been lost.
Falconry. (of a hawk) to forsake the proper prey and follow baser game (followed by at).
noun,pluralchecksor, for 43, chex.
Also British, cheque .Banking. a written order, usually on a standard printed form, directing a bank to pay money.
a slip or ticket showing the amount owed, especially a bill for food or beverages consumed.
a ticket or token that when matched with a counterpart identifies an article left in the temporary custody of another, the purchaser of a ticket, a person who is to be served next, etc.
a criterion, standard, or means to insure against error, fraud, etc.: This handmade sample is a check that the machine-made samples have to match.
an inquiry, search, or examination: We made a quick check but found nothing missing.
Also called check mark. a mark, often indicated by (✓), as on a list, to indicate that something has been considered, acted upon, or approved.
a person or thing that stops, limits, slows, or restrains: The increase of duty was an effective check on imports. He was a check on her enthusiasm.
a sudden arrest or stoppage: Taxation caused a check in the accumulation of vast fortunes.
a control, test, or inspection that ascertains performance or prevents error: They ran a check on the dependability of the automobile.
a pattern formed of squares, as on a checkerboard.
one of the squares in such a pattern.
a fabric having a check pattern.
Chess. the exposure of the king to direct attack: The king was in check.
Ice Hockey. any of several maneuvers designed to obstruct or impede the forward progress of an opponent.Compare board check, body check, cross-check (def. 5), hook check, poke check, sweep check.
a counter used in card games, as the chip in poker.
a small crack: There were several checks in the paint.
an egg, designated for market, having a slightly cracked shell and an intact inner membrane.
Masonry. a rabbet-shaped cutting on the edge of a stone, by which it is fitted to another stone.
Hunting.
the losing of the scent by a dog or pack.
(in fox hunting) a period in a hunt, following the losing of the scent by the hounds, during which the field rests quietly while the hounds cast to regain the scent.
adjective
serving to check, control, verify, etc.: a check system.
ornamented with a pattern of squares; checkered: a check border.
interjection
Chess. (used as a call to warn one's opponent that his or her king is exposed to direct attack, having just one move in which to escape or parry.)
Informal. all right! agreed!
Verb Phrases
check in,to register, as at a hotel; indicate one's arrival or presence at a place, function, etc., usually by signing an appropriate form: We checked in at the reception desk.
check on / up onto investigate, scrutinize, or inspect: Don't forget to check on his work. We have to check up on him.
check out,
to vacate and pay for one's quarters at a hotel.
to verify or become verified; examine or investigate.
to fulfill requirements, as by passing a test: The engine checked out and we proceeded on our way.
to itemize, total the cost of, and collect payment for (a purchase): The supermarket cashier was exhausted from checking out groceries all day long.
to have the cost added up and pay for merchandise.
to borrow (an item) by having it listed as one's temporary responsibility: The adding machine was checked out in your name.
Informal.to depart quickly or abruptly; leave in a hurry.
Slang.to die.
check over,to examine or investigate, especially thoroughly.
VIDEO FOR CHECK
WATCH NOW: The Word "Check" Has A Very Regal Origin
Asking for checks and filling out forms with checkmarks is boring, so it’s easy to forget that "check" was a word that originated from a game of knights, kings, and queens; basically the stuff Game of Thrones is made of.
MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM
Idioms for check
check the helm, Nautical. to alter the helm of a turning vessel to keep the bow from swinging too far or too rapidly.
in check, under restraint: He held his anger in check.
Origin of check
1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chek, chekke (in the game of chess), from Old French eschec (by loss of the initial unstressed vowel), variant of eschac, from Arabic shāh “check” (in the game of chess), from Persian: literally, “king” (an exclamation: i.e., “look out, your king is threatened”); see shah
1. See stop. 2. Check,curb,repress,restrain refer to putting a control on movement, progress, action, etc. Check implies arresting suddenly, halting or causing to halt: to check a movement toward reform.Curb implies the use of a means such as a chain, strap, frame, wall, etc., to guide or control or to force to stay within definite limits: to curb a horse.Repress, formerly meaning to suppress, now implies preventing the action or development that might naturally be expected: to repress evidence of excitement.Restrain implies the use of force to put under control, or chiefly, to hold back: to restrain a person from violent acts.
Same coaches and same teammates, but practices were off campus and often took at least some precautions, like distancing and temperature checks.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out|Ashly McGlone|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
It will be writing checks ranging between roughly half a million and $3 million dollars, and it is only planning to raise $40 million — so the checks will be selective.
With Goat Capital, Justin Kan and Robin Chan want to keep founding alongside the right teams|Eric Eldon|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
To do so, check your local government website for OHV laws and regulations or head over to the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, which has tons of resources like basic off-road driver courses and tips for minimizing your impact.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online
Votes aren’t just little sheets of paper with boxes you check with a crayon.
William Barr is the poster child for politicized law enforcement officials|Philip Bump|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Ballot designs and rules vary by state, but check that you’ve signed everywhere and sealed all the envelopes as instructed.
ProPublica’s Pandemic Guide to Making Sure Your Vote Counts|by Susie Armitage|September 16, 2020|ProPublica
In this cockamamie get-rich scheme, would they all issue an apology if he cut a check?
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We try to avoid going away for too long, so we can check back in.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To judge her acting abilities for yourself, check out her videos on YouTube for “Sex Shooter.”
Speed Read: The Juiciest Bits From the History of ‘Purple Rain’|Jennie Yabroff|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“There are too many mysteries not to check out every lead,” Orlandi said.
Pope-Shooter Ali Agca’s Very Weird Vatican Visit|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Check out a clip from this exclusive interview with SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace at the 2014 Savannah Film Festival.
Who Is Joe Manganiello? Sofia Vergara’s Fiancé on the Value of Hard Work|The Daily Beast Video|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
See Trollope, ii, 179, as to the endless Florentine devices to check special power and to vary the balance of the constitution.
The Evolution of States|J. M. Robertson
Rick and Scotty watched Jimmy Kelly check the diving equipment of the frogman teams lined up on the destroyer escort's deck.
The Wailing Octopus|Harold Leland Goodwin
Tommy was not inclined to check his pace, but a revolver in the hands of the fellow induced him to do so.
Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone|G. Harvey Ralphson
You have heard, I doubt not, how England is resolved not to be thus held in check.
French and English|Evelyn Everett-Green
Edith rose, and, going up to her husband, put the check in his hand.
The Brute|Frederic Arnold Kummer
British Dictionary definitions for check
check
/ (tʃɛk) /
verb
to pause or cause to pause, esp abruptly
(tr)to restrain or controlto check one's tears
(tr)to slow the growth or progress of; retard
(tr)to rebuke or rebuff
(when intr, often foll by on or up on) to examine, investigate, or make an inquiry into (facts, a product, etc) for accuracy, quality, or progress, esp rapidly or informally
(tr)mainlyUS and Canadianto mark off so as to indicate approval, correctness, or preferenceUsual Brit word: tick
(intr often foll by with) mainlyUS and Canadianto correspond or agreethis report checks with the other
(tr)mainlyUS, Canadian and NZto leave in or accept (clothing or property) for temporary custody
chessto place (an opponent's king) in check
(tr)to mark with a pattern of squares or crossed lines
to crack or cause to crack
agriculture short for checkrow
(tr)ice hockeyto impede (an opponent)
(intr)hunting(of hounds) to pause in the pursuit of quarry while relocating a lost scent
(intr foll by at) falconryto change from one quarry to another while in flight
(intr)to decline the option of opening the betting in a round of poker
check the helmnauticalto swing back the helm of a vessel to prevent it from turning too quickly or too far
noun
a break in progress; stoppage
a restraint or rebuff
a person or thing that restrains, halts, etc
(as modifier)a check line
a control, esp a rapid or informal one, designed to ensure accuracy, progress, etc
(as modifier)a check list
a means or standard to ensure against fraud or error
the US word for tick 1
the US spelling of cheque
mainlyUSthe bill in a restaurant
mainlyUS and Canadiana ticket or tag used to identify clothing or property deposited for custody
a pattern of squares or crossed lines
a single square in such a pattern
fabric with a pattern of squares or crossed lines
(as modifier)a check suit
chessthe state or position of a king under direct attack, from which it must be moved or protected by another piece
a small crack, as one in veneer or one that occurs in timber during seasoning
part of the action of a piano that arrests the backward motion of a hammer after it has struck a string and holds it until the key is released
a chip or counter used in some card and gambling games
huntinga pause by the hounds in the pursuit of their quarry owing to loss of its scent
anglinga ratchet fitted to a fishing reel to check the free running of the line
ice hockeythe act of impeding an opponent with one's body or stick
in checkunder control or restraint
interjection
chessa call made to an opponent indicating that his king is in check
mainlyUS and Canadianan expression of agreement
See also check in, check off, check out, checkup
Derived forms of check
checkable, adjective
Word Origin for check
C14: from Old French eschec a check at chess, hence, a pause (to verify something), via Arabic from Persian shāh the king! (in chess)