noun
1. the act of inspecting or verifying
e.g. they made a check of their equipment
the pilot ran through the check-out procedure
Synonym: checkoutcheck-out procedure
2. (chess) a direct attack on an opponent's king
3. obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
4. the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
e.g. his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper
Synonym: bridlecurb
5. a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a checkerboard)
e.g. she wore a skirt with checks
6. a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken off of something
Synonym: chip
7. something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
Synonym: hindrancehinderancedeterrentimpedimentbalkbaulkhandicap
8. an appraisal of the state of affairs
e.g. they made an assay of the contents
a check on its dependability under stress
Synonym: assay
9. additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct
e.g. fossils provided further confirmation of the evolutionary theory
Synonym: confirmationverificationsubstantiation
10. the bill in a restaurant
e.g. he asked the waiter for the check
Synonym: chittab
11. a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed etc.
e.g. as he called the role he put a check mark by each student's name
Synonym: check marktick
12. a written order directing a bank to pay money
e.g. he paid all his bills by check
Synonym: bank checkcheque
13. the state of inactivity following an interruption
e.g. the negotiations were in arrest
held them in check
during the halt he got some lunch
the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow
he spent the entire stop in his seat
Synonym: arresthalthitchstaystopstoppage
verb
1. become fractured
break or crack on the surface only
e.g. The glass cracked when it was heated
Synonym: crackbreak
2. make cracks or chinks in
e.g. The heat checked the paint
Synonym: chink
3. arrest the motion (of something) abruptly
e.g. He checked the flow of water by shutting off the main valve
4. slow the growth or development of
e.g. The brain damage will retard the child's language development
Synonym: retarddelay
5. examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
e.g. check the brakes
Check out the engine
Synonym: check up onlook intocheck outsuss outcheck overgo overcheck into
6. put a check mark on or near or next to
e.g. Please check each name on the list
tick off the items
mark off the units
Synonym: check offmarkmark offtick offtick
7. be careful or certain to do something
make certain of something
e.g. He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
control the quality of the product
Synonym: seeinsuresee to itensurecontrolascertainassure
8. verify by consulting a source or authority
e.g. check the spelling of this word
check your facts
9. find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
e.g. I want to see whether she speaks French
See whether it works
find out if he speaks Russian
Check whether the train leaves on time
Synonym: determinefind outseeascertainwatchlearn
10. write out a check on a bank account
11. place into check
e.g. He checked my kings
12. hold back, as of a danger or an enemy
check the expansion or influence of
e.g. Arrest the downward trend
Check the growth of communism in South East Asia
Contain the rebel movement
Turn back the tide of communism
Synonym: turn backarreststopcontainhold back
13. decline to initiate betting
14. mark into squares or draw squares on
draw crossed lines on
Synonym: checkerchequer
15. stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution
e.g. She checked for an instant and missed a step
16. stop in a chase especially when scent is lost
e.g. The dog checked
17. abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior prey
18. hand over something to somebody as for temporary safekeeping
e.g. Check your coat at the door
19. consign for shipment on a vehicle
e.g. check your luggage before boarding
20. lessen the intensity of
temper
hold in restraint
hold or keep within limits
e.g. moderate your alcohol intake
hold your tongue
hold your temper
control your anger
Synonym: controlhold inholdcontaincurbmoderate
21. make an examination or investigation
e.g. check into the rumor
check the time of the class
22. develop (children's) behavior by instruction and practice
especially to teach self-control
e.g. Parents must discipline their children
Is this dog trained?
Synonym: disciplinetraincondition
23. block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey
24. be compatible, similar or consistent
coincide in their characteristics
e.g. The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Synonym: matchfitcorrespondjibegibetallyagree
25. be verified or confirmed
pass inspection
e.g. These stories don't check!
Synonym: check out