English Explanatory Dictionary

check

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An inspection or examination.
  2. A control; a limit or stop.
  3. A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
  4. A mark (especially a checkmark: ✓) used as an indicator.
  5. An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity.
  6. A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
  7. A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play.
  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.
  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.
  11. The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
  12. A small chink or crack.
verb
  1. To inspect; to examine.
  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).
  4. To control, limit, or halt.
  5. To scold or rebuke someone.
  6. To verify or compare with a source of information.
  7. To leave in safekeeping.
  8. To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
  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.
  10. To disrupt another player with the stick or body to obtain possession of the ball or puck.
  11. To announce that one is remaining in a hand without betting.
  12. To make a move which puts an adversary's king in check; to put in check.
intj
  1. An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied.
  2. An expression that indicates that the speaker wishes to pay the bill (e.g. in a restaurant).
noun
  1. A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
  2. Any fabric woven with such a pattern.
verb
  1. To mark with a check pattern.
adj
  1. Checky, i.e. chequy.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

chĕk /t͡ʃɛk/ [t͡ʃʰɛk̚] en-us-check.ogg

Word forms

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

Etymology

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 chess and shah (“king of Persia or Iran”), from the same source, as well as thig, which derives from the Germanic cognate. All of the English senses developed from the chess sense.

Synonyms

tick checkmark cheque bill check off tick off cross off strike off 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 stifle stop straiten subdue suppress throttle underbring withhold withstrain tackle trap attack

Antonyms

uncheck

Derived words

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 checkstand checkstop checkstring checksum CheckUser check washing checkweighman checkwriter countercheck early life check enhanced check hatcheck mike check mischeck pass in one's checks soundcheck stopcheck telecheck time check time-of-check to time-of-use write checks one can't cash A check background check baggage check B check bed-check blank check blank check company blue check blue check mark body-check bounced check brake check C check certified check checkability
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