check

An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied.

Adjective

  1. Checky, i.e. chequy.
    • CHECKY, […] Checky, according to Colombiere, is one of the most noble and ancient figures […] Checky is always composed of metal, and colour. […] So that if that be or, and the next gules, the house or family is said to...
    • He died about 1270; and his son, Sir Robert, assisted the brave Sir William Wallace, and died in 1800. BOYD ARMS. Azure, a fesse check, argent et gules. - 1825, Robert Trotter (the Younger.), Derwentwater; Or, the...

Origin

By shortening from chequer, from Old French eschequier (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.

Interjection

  1. An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied.
    • Keys? Check. Batteries? Check. We are all ready to go!
  2. An expression that indicates that the speaker wishes to pay the bill (e.g. in a restaurant).

Origin

From Middle English chekken, partly from Old French eschequier and partly from the noun (see above).

Noun Entry 3

  1. An inspection or examination.
    • I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check.
  2. A control; a limit or stop.
    • checks and balances
    • The castle moat should hold the enemy in check.
    • a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity - 2026 June 16 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 33. Tuesday, June 5. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison,...
  3. A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
  4. A mark (especially a checkmark: ✓) used as an indicator.
    • Norton had made a neat, lawyerly check beside each of the items he and Billy had picked up—half a dozen or so, including the milk and a six-pack of Coke. - 1980, Stephen King, The Mist, Viking Press:

    Synonyms: tick checkmark

  5. An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity.
    • I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a check for the amount.

    Synonyms: cheque

  6. A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
    • I summoned the waiter, paid the check, and hurried to leave.

    Synonyms: bill cheque

  7. A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play.
    • The hockey player gave a good hard check to obtain the puck.
    • Liverpool had been reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute, Ibrahima Konaté collecting a second yellow card for a check on Kai Havertz. - 2024 February 4, David Hytner, “Arsenal ignite title hopes as Gabriel Martinelli...
  8. A token used instead of cash in various contexts, including sign-out of company property or collection of rations (dated), in gaming machines, or in gambling generally.
    • a brass check
    • […]the statute prohibits a machine which dispenses checks or tokens for replay[…] - 1963, American law reports annotated: second series, volume 89:

    Coordinate Terms: chit

  9. A lengthwise separation through the growth rings in wood.
  10. A mark, certificate, or token by which errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified.
    • a check given for baggage
    • a return check on a railroad
  11. The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds. [from 15th c.]
  12. A small chink or crack.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tek- Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati Proto-Iranian *xšáyati Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ) Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ) Classical Persian شاه (šāh)bor. Arabic شَاه (šāh)bor. Medieval Latin scaccusder. Old French eschecbor. Middle English chek English check From Middle English chek, chekke, borrowed from Old French eschec, eschek, eschac, from Medieval Latin scaccus, borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king or check at chess, shah”), borrowed from Classical Persian شَاه (šāh, “king”), from Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ /⁠šāh⁠/), from Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ /⁠xšāyaθiya⁠/, “king”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati (“he rules, he has power over”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to gain power over, gain control over”). Compare Saterland Frisian Schak, Schach, Dutch schaak, German Schach, Danish skak, Swedish schack, Icelandic skák, French échec, Italian scacco. Doublet of...

Forms

checks

Hyponyms

bad check bed check body check bugcheck bug check cashier's check counter check diaper check discovered check double check early life check fit check gut check heat check hot check nappy check rain check reality check revealed check shoulder check signal check stick check teller's check traveler's check

Derived

aircheck attitude check backcheck bounce a check buttcheck checkage checkback check bill checkbox check is in the mail checkitis checkless checkman check minus check plus checkpoint checkpointless checkpost checkrein check ride checkride checkroll checkroom checkrow

Noun business, manufacturing

  1. A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
    • The tablecloth had red and white checks.
    • One of her female followers, had made a very elegant piece of check. The Friend, being at her house, on a visit, the lady shewed the check to her, and as evidence of devotion to her leader, proposed presenting her with...
  2. Any fabric woven with such a pattern.

Forms

checks

Derived

checkwork overcheck pincheck

Noun India, Pakistan

  1. Alternative form of chick (“window blind or door screen”).

Forms

checks

Verb Entry 6

  1. To inspect; to examine.
    • Check the oil in your car once a month.
    • Check whether this page has a watermark.
  2. To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
  3. To mark items on a list (with a checkmark or by crossing them out) that have been chosen for keeping or removal or that have been dealt with (for example, completed or verified as correct or satisfactory).
    • Check the items on the list that interest you.
    • Check the correct answer to each question.

    Synonyms: check off tick tick off cross off strike off

    Antonyms: uncheck

  4. To control, limit, or halt.
    • Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.
    • c. 1775–1780, Edmund Burke, letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression
    • She was about to retort but something checked the words on her tongue. - 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

    Synonyms: curtail restrain behedge guard govern smother bind chasten check inhibit contain vanquish cork curb bury dampen hamshackle hold back hold down limit repress restrict shackle stay

  5. To scold or rebuke someone.
  6. To verify or compare with a source of information.
    • Check your data against known values.
  7. To leave in safekeeping.
    • Check your hat and coat at the door.
  8. To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
    • Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.
  9. To pass or bounce the ball to an opponent from behind the three-point line and have the opponent pass or bounce it back to start play.
    • He checked the ball and then proceeded to perform a perfect layup.
    • That basket doesn't count—you forgot to check!
  10. To disrupt another player with the stick or body to obtain possession of the ball or puck.
    • The hockey player checked the defenceman to obtain the puck.

    Synonyms: tackle trap attack

  11. To announce that one is remaining in a hand without betting.
    • Tom didn't think he could win, so he checked.
  12. To make a move which puts an adversary's king in check; to put in check.
    • After I checked my opponent with a pawn, he resigned immediately.

Forms

checks checking checked no-table-tags glossary check checkest checkedst checketh -

Derived

A check backcheck background check baggage check B check bed-check blank check blank check company blue check blue check mark body-check bounced check brake check buttcheck C check certified check checkability checkable check against check all the boxes check and balance check and mate check at the door checkbook

Verb Entry 7

  1. To mark with a check pattern.

Forms

checks checking checked