check

check¹

—checkless, adj.

/chek/, v., n., pl. checks or, for 45, chex, adj., interj.

v.t.

1. to stop or arrest the motion of suddenly or forcibly: He checked the horse at the edge of the cliff.

2. to restrain; hold in restraint or control: They built a high wall to check the tides.

3. to cause a reduction, as in rate or intensity; diminish: The new measures checked the rapidity with which the epidemic was spreading.

4. to investigate or verify as to correctness: She checked the copy against the original.

5. to make an inquiry into, search through, etc.: We checked the files, but the letter was missing.

6. to inspect or test the performance, condition, safety, etc., of (something): Check a used car thoroughly before buying it.

7. to mark (something) so as to indicate examination, correctness, preference, etc. (often fol. by off): Please check the correct answer. They checked off the names of people they wanted to invite.

8. to leave in temporary custody: Check your umbrellas at the door.

9. to accept for temporary custody: We accept responsibility for any article we check here.

10. 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.

11. to accept (baggage) for conveyance, and to convey, under the privilege of a passenger's ticket: Check this trunk to Portland.

12. to mark with or in a pattern of squares: to check fabric.

13. Agric. to plant in checkrows.

14. Chess. to place (an opponent's king) under direct attack.

15. Ice Hockey. to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent). Cf. back-check, fore-check.

v.i.

16. to prove to be right; correspond accurately: The reprint checks with the original, item for item.

17. to make an inquiry, investigation, etc., as for verification (often fol. by up, into, etc.): He checked to make sure his answer was correct. Check into the matter.

18. to make a sudden stop; pause: The horse checked before he jumped.

19. Chess. to make a move that puts the opponent's king under direct attack.

20. to crack or split, usually in small checks: Painted surfaces may check with age.

21. 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.

22. Hunting. (of hounds) to stop, esp. because the line of scent has been lost.

23. Falconry. (of a hawk) to forsake the proper prey and follow baser game (fol. by at).

24. 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.

25. check on or up on, to investigate, scrutinize, or inspect: Don't forget to check on his work. We have to check up on him.

26. check out,

a. to vacate and pay for one's quarters at a hotel.

b. to verify or become verified; examine or investigate.

c. to fulfill requirements, as by passing a test: The engine checked out and we proceeded on our way.

d. to itemize, total the cost of, and collect payment for (a purchase): The supermarket cashier was exhausted from checking out groceries all day long.

e. to have the cost added up and pay for merchandise.

f. to borrow (an item) by having it listed as one's temporary responsibility: The adding machine was checked out in your name.

g. Informal. to depart quickly or abruptly; leave in a hurry.

h. Slang. to die.

27. check over, to examine or investigate, esp. thoroughly.

28. check the helm, Naut. to alter the helm of a turning vessel to keep the bow from swinging too far or too rapidly.

n.

29. Also, Brit., cheque. Banking. a written order, usually on a standard printed form, directing a bank to pay money.

30. a slip or ticket showing the amount owed, esp. a bill for food or beverages consumed.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. an inquiry, search, or examination: We made a quick check but found nothing missing.

34. Also called check mark. a mark, often appearing as a tick symbol, as on a list, to indicate that something has been considered, acted upon, or approved.

35. 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.

36. a sudden arrest or stoppage; repulse; rebuff: Taxation caused a check in the accumulation of vast fortunes.

37. a control, test, or inspection that ascertains performance or prevents error: They ran a check on the dependability of the automobile.

38. a pattern formed of squares, as on a checkerboard.

39. one of the squares in such a pattern.

40. a fabric having a check pattern.

41. Chess. the exposure of the king to direct attack: The king was in check.

42. Ice Hockey. any of several maneuvers designed to obstruct or impede the forward progress of an opponent. Cf. board check, body check, cross-check (def. 5), hook check, poke check, sweep check.

43. a counter used in card games, as the chip in poker.

44. a small crack: There were several checks in the paint.

45. an egg, designated for market, having a slightly cracked shell and an intact inner membrane.

46. Masonry. a rabbet-shaped cutting on the edge of a stone, by which it is fitted to another stone.

47. Hunting.

a. the losing of the scent by a dog or pack.

b. (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.

48. in check, under restraint: He held his anger in check.

adj.

49. serving to check, control, verify, etc.: a check system.

50. ornamented with a checkered pattern; checkered: a check border.

interj.

51. 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.)

52. Informal. all right! agreed!

[1275-1325; ME chek, chekke (at chess) < OF eschec (by aphesis), var. of eschac < Ar shah check (at chess) < Pers: lit., king (an exclamation: i.e., look out, your king is threatened); see SHAH]

Syn. 1. See stop. 2. hinder, hamper, obstruct, curtail; chain, bridle, hobble. 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. 6. examine. 16. agree. 30. receipt, tab, counterfoil. 31. coupon, tag, stub. 35. obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, restriction, restraint, impediment, control, deterrent; bar, barrier; damper; curb, bridle, bit, rein.

Ant. 1. advance.

check²

/chek/, n. South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. Often, checks. the game of checkers.

2. any of the playing pieces used in this game.

[by shortening]

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Bill of exchange drawn on a bank and payable on demand.

Checks have become the chief form of money in the domestic commerce of developed countries. As a written order to pay money, a check may be transferred from one person to another by endorsement. Most checks are not paid in currency but by the debiting and crediting of bank deposits. There are several special forms of checks. A cashier's check is issued by a bank and has unquestioned acceptability, as does a certified check, which is a depositor's check that has been guaranteed by a bank. Traveler's checks are cashier's checks sold to travelers, which must be signed twice by the payee, once when the check is issued and once when it is cashed; reimbursement is guaranteed if they are lost or stolen.

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▪ finance

also spelled  Cheque,  

      bill of exchange drawn on a bank and payable on demand; it has become the chief form of money in the domestic commerce of developed countries. As a written order to pay money, it may be transferred from one person to another by endorsement and delivery or, in certain cases, by delivery alone. Negotiability can be qualified by appropriate words, as with restrictive endorsements, or by the check form itself. Most checks are not paid in currency but by the debiting and crediting of bank deposits. Clearings are accomplished either by direct presentation, by correspondent banks, through local clearinghouses, or by central banks, such as the federal reserve banks in the United States.

      A cashier's check is issued by a bank against itself and is signed by the cashier or some other bank officer. It has unquestioned acceptability as exchange. A certified check is a depositor's check that has been guaranteed by the bank upon which it is drawn and is so stamped. Traveler's checks are cashier's checks sold to travellers that require two signatures by the payee. One signature is placed on the check in the presence of an issuing agent; the other signature is for the purpose of identification and is placed on the check when it is cashed. Purchasers of traveller's checks are guaranteed reimbursement by the issuers of the checks if the checks are lost or stolen.

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