check

[[t]tʃɛk[/t]]

v. t.

1) to stop or arrest the motion of suddenly or forcibly

2) to restrain; control:

to check an impulse[/ex]

3) to cause to diminish, as in rate or intensity

4) to verify the correctness of, as by comparison

5) to inquire into, search through, etc.:

to check the files for a missing letter[/ex]

6) to inspect or test the condition, performance, safety, etc., of

7) to mark so as to indicate choice, correctness, verification, etc. (often fol. by off)

8) to leave in or accept for temporary custody:

Check your coats at the door[/ex]

9) to surrender (baggage) for conveyance

10) tex to mark with or in a pattern of squares:

to check fabric[/ex]

11) chs gam (in chess) to place (an opponent's king) under direct attack

12) spo (in ice hockey) to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent)

13) to prove to be right; correspond accurately

14) to make an inquiry or investigation, as for verification (often fol. by up, into, etc.):

Check into the matter[/ex]

15) to stop suddenly

16) chs gam (in chess) to make a move that puts the opponent's king under direct attack

17) bui to crack or split, as paint

18) gam (in poker) to decline to bet

19) phv check in, to register or report one's arrival, as at a hotel or airport

20) phv check (up) on, to investigate, scrutinize, or inspect

21) phv check out

a) to leave a hotel, hospital, etc., officially, esp. after settling one's account

b) to verify or become verified

c) to confirm or be confirmed as fulfilling necessary requirements, being in working condition, etc

d) to total the cost of purchases and collect payment from (a customer)

e) to lend or borrow (an item) officially, as from a library

f) Informal. to depart quickly or abruptly

g) Slang. to die

22) phv check over, to examine or investigate thoroughly

23) bus a written order, usu. on a standard printed form, directing a bank to pay money

24) a slip showing an amount owed, esp. a bill as for food or beverages consumed

25) a ticket given for items left in a checkroom, to customers waiting to be served, etc

26) a criterion, standard, or means to insure against error, fraud, etc

27) an inquiry, search, or examination

28) a mark, often indicated by (✓), as on a list, to indicate that something has been noted, acted upon, approved, etc

29) a sudden arrest or stoppage

30) a means of stopping, limiting, or restraining

31) a test or inspection, as to ascertain quality or performance

32) a pattern formed of squares

33) one of the squares in such a pattern

34) tex a fabric having such a pattern

35) chs gam (in chess) the exposure of the king to direct attack

36) spo an ice hockey maneuver designed to obstruct or impede the movement of an opponent

37) gam a counter used in card games, as the chip in poker

38) bui a small crack, as in a painted surface

39) chs gam (used as a call in chess to warn that an opponent's king is in check.)

40) inf cvb Informal. all right! agreed!

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- in check

Etymology: 1275–1325; ME chek, chekke (at chess) < OF eschec (by aphesis), var. of eschac < Ar shāh check (at chess) < Pers: lit., king (an exclamation: i.e., look out, your king is threatened); see shah syn: check, curb, restrain refer to putting a control on movement, progress, action, etc. check implies arresting suddenly, halting or causing to halt by means of drastic action: to check a movement toward reform. curb implies slowing or stopping forward motion: to curb inflation; to curb a horse. restrain implies the use of force to put under control or hold back: to restrain one's enthusiasm; to restrain unruly spectators. See also stop