- a sudden stop; abrupt halt
- any restraint or control put upon action
- a person or thing that restrains or controls
- a supervision of accuracy, efficiency, etc.
- a test, comparison, examination, etc. to determine if something is as it should be
- a standard or sample used in making such a determination
- a mark (?) to show approval or verification of something, or to call attention to it
- an identification ticket or other token enabling one to claim an item left in a checkroom, etc.: a hat check
- one's bill at a restaurant or bar
- Now Rare a gambling chip
- a written order to a bank to pay a named payee a stated amount of money, typically from funds deposited in the payer's checking account
- a form, typically preprinted with the payer's name, account number, etc., used for such orders
- a pattern of small squares like that of a chessboard
- one of these squares
- a fabric with such a pattern
- a small split, crack, or chink
- Obs. a rebuke; reprimand
- 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
- Hockey a blocking or bumping of an opponent
Origin of check
Middle English chek from Old French eschec, eschac, a check at chess, repulse from Medieval Latin scaccus, scahus from Persian š?h, king, principal piece in a game of chess (see shah); probably sense development: king in danger ? hostile action ? restraining action ? means of restraint or control- Informal agreed; I understand; right; OK
- Chess used to signify that one's opponent's king is in check
- to cause to stop suddenly; halt abruptly
- to hold back; restrain; control
- to rebuff, repulse, or rebuke
- to test, measure, verify, or control by investigation, comparison, or examination: check the accounts
- to mark with a check (?)
- to mark with a pattern of squares
- to deposit or receive for deposit temporarily, as in a checkroom
- to get (esp. luggage) cleared for shipment
- to add up the prices of (purchases) and collect the total: said of a cashier, as in a supermarket
- to make chinks or cracks in
- Agric. to plant in checkrows
- Chess to place (an opponent's king) in check
- Hockey to block or bump (an opponent)
- Naut. to reduce the strain on (a line) by letting it out gradually
- to agree with one another, item for item: the accounts check
- to investigate in order to determine the condition, validity, etc. of something: often with on
- to draw a check on a bank account
- to crack in small checks: cheap paint may check
- to stop or halt; specif., to pause, as a hunting dog, to pick up the scent
- Falconry to turn from the pursuit of one prey to follow a lesser one (with at)
- Poker to decline one's chance to open a round of betting
- used to check or verify: a check experiment
- having a crisscross pattern; checked
check Idioms
check in
- to register at a hotel, convention, etc.
- Informal to report, as by presenting oneself: check in at the office
check off
to mark as verified, examined, etc.
check out
- to settle one's bill and leave a hotel, hospital, etc.
- to add up the prices of purchases and collect the total: said of a cashier, as in a supermarket
- to examine and verify or approve
- to prove to be accurate, in sound condition, etc. upon examination
- to draw (money) from a bank by check
- to register items to be loaned out, as books from a library
- Slang to die
check up on
to examine the record, character, actions, etc. of; investigate
in check
in restraint; under control
