Definition of "check"

check¹

/t͡ʃɛk/

noun
plural checks
1. An inspection or examination.
2. A control; a limit or stop.
  Quotations
  a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity
  2023 December 22 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 33. Friday, December 11. ”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721
3. (chess) A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
4. (US) A mark (especially a checkmark: ✓) used as an indicator.
  Quotations
  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
5. (US) An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity.
6. (US) A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
7. (contact sports) A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play.
8. A token used instead of cash in gaming machines, or in gambling generally.
  Quotations
  […] the statute prohibits a machine which dispenses checks or tokens for replay […]
  1963, American law reports annotated: second series, volume 89
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. (falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
12. A small chink or crack.

check²

/t͡ʃɛk/

verb
third-person singular simple present checks, present participle checking, simple past and past participle checked
1. (transitive) To inspect; to examine.
2. (transitive) To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
3. (transitive, US, often used with "off") 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. (transitive) To control, limit, or halt.
  Quotations
  so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression
  c. 1775–1780, Edmund Burke, letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol
  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, […]
5. (transitive) To verify or compare with a source of information.
6. (transitive) To leave in safekeeping.
7. (transitive) To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
8. (street basketball, transitive) 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.
9. (sports, transitive) To disrupt another player with the stick or body to obtain possession of the ball or puck.
10. (poker, transitive) To announce that one is remaining in a hand without betting.
11. (chess, transitive) To make a move which puts an adversary's king in check; to put in check.
12. (transitive) To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
  Quotations
  The good king, his master, will check him for it.
  c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii]
13. (nautical) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
14. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
15. (transitive) To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack.
16. (intransitive, with at) To make a stop; to pause.
  Quotations
  The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after.
  a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706
17. (obsolete) To clash or interfere.
  Quotations
  For if it [Loue] checke once with businesse, it troubleth Mens fortunes.
  1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Love”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret
18. To act as a curb or restraint.
  Quotations
  It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
  1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, (please specify the page number)
19. (falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
  Quotations
  And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye.
  c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene i]
interjection
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).

check³

/t͡ʃɛk/

noun
plural checks
1. (textiles, usually pluralized) A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
  Quotations
  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 a pattern off the piece for her own use.
  1819, Charles Mowry, in the Downington Pennsylvania American Republican, quoted in Herbery Wisbey, Pioneer Prophetess: Jemima Wilkinson, the Publick Universal Friend
2. Any fabric woven with such a pattern.
verb
third-person singular simple present checks, present participle checking, simple past and past participle checked
1. (transitive) To mark with a check pattern.
adjective
not comparable
1. (heraldry, rare, possibly only as a printing error) Checky, i.e. chequy.
  Quotations
  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 bear check, or, and gules. When the whole shield is not chequered , but only the chief, a bend, cross, or the like, the number of ranges should be expressed.
  1741, Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopaedia: Or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (etc.) 5. Ed
  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 Adherents of King James. A Tale of the First Rebellion. With an Appendix, Containing Genealogical Notices and Anecdotes of Several Ancient and Honourable Families, page 115

Definition of "check"

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interjection

check3

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