[chek] 
verb, noun, plural checks or, for 40, chex, adjective, interjection | 1. | to stop or arrest the motion of suddenly or forcibly: He checked the horse at the edge of the cliff. |
| 2. | to restrain; hold in restraint or control: They built a high wall to check the tides. |
| 3. | to cause a reduction, as in rate or intensity; diminish: The new measures checked the rapidity with which the epidemic was spreading. |
| 4. | to investigate or verify as to correctness: She checked the copy against the original. |
| 5. | to make an inquiry into, search through, etc.: We checked the files, but the letter was missing. |
| 6. | to inspect or test the performance, condition, safety, etc., of (something): Check a used car thoroughly before buying it. |
| 7. | to mark (something) so as to indicate examination, correctness, preference, etc. (often fol. by off): Please check the correct answer. They checked off the names of people they wanted to invite. |
| 8. | to leave in temporary custody: Check your umbrellas at the door. |
| 9. | to accept for temporary custody: We accept responsibility for any article we check here. |
| 10. | to send (baggage) on a passenger's ticket, usually on the same carrier used by the passenger, for pickup at the destination: We checked two trunks through to Portland. |
| 11. | to accept (baggage) for conveyance, and to convey, under the privilege of a passenger's ticket: Check this trunk to Portland. |
| 12. | to mark with or in a pattern of squares: to check fabric. |
| 13. | Agriculture. to plant in checkrows. |
| 14. | Chess. to place (an opponent's king) under direct attack. |
| 15. | Ice Hockey. to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent). Compare back-check, fore-check. |
| 16. | to prove to be right; correspond accurately: The reprint checks with the original, item for item. |
| 17. | to make an inquiry, investigation, etc., as for verification (often fol. by up, into, etc.): He checked to make sure his answer was correct. Check into the matter. |
| 18. | to make a sudden stop; pause: The horse checked before he jumped. |
| 19. | Chess. to make a move that puts the opponent's king under direct attack. |
| 20. | to crack or split, usually in small checks: Painted surfaces may check with age. |
| 21. | Poker. to decline to initiate the betting in a betting round, usually to force another player to make the first bet rather than raise it. |
| 22. | Hunting. (of hounds) to stop, esp. because the line of scent has been lost. |
| 23. | Falconry. (of a hawk) to forsake the proper prey and follow baser game (fol. by at). |
| 24. | Also, British, cheque. Banking. a written order, usually on a standard printed form, directing a bank to pay money. |
| 25. | a slip or ticket showing the amount owed, esp. a bill for food or beverages consumed. |
| 26. | a ticket or token that when matched with a counterpart identifies an article left in the temporary custody of another, the purchaser of a ticket, a person who is to be served next, etc. |
| 27. | a criterion, standard, or means to insure against error, fraud, etc.: This handmade sample is a check that the machine-made samples have to match. |
| 28. | an inquiry, search, or examination: We made a quick check but found nothing missing. |
| 29. | Also called check mark. a mark, often indicated by ( ), as on a list, to indicate that something has been considered, acted upon, or approved. |
| 30. | a person or thing that stops, limits, slows, or restrains: The increase of duty was an effective check on imports. He was a check on her enthusiasm. |
| 31. | a sudden arrest or stoppage; repulse; rebuff: Taxation caused a check in the accumulation of vast fortunes. |
| 32. | a control, test, or inspection that ascertains performance or prevents error: They ran a check on the dependability of the automobile. |
| 33. | a pattern formed of squares, as on a checkerboard. |
| 34. | one of the squares in such a pattern. |
| 35. | a fabric having a check pattern. |
| 36. | Chess. the exposure of the king to direct attack: The king was in check. |
| 37. | Ice Hockey. any of several maneuvers designed to obstruct or impede the forward progress of an opponent. Compare board check, body check, cross-check (def. 5), hook check, poke check, sweep check. |
| 38. | a counter used in card games, as the chip in poker. |
| 39. | a small crack: There were several checks in the paint. |
| 40. | an egg, designated for market, having a slightly cracked shell and an intact inner membrane. |
| 41. | Masonry. a rabbet-shaped cutting on the edge of a stone, by which it is fitted to another stone. |
| 42. | Hunting.
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| 43. | serving to check, control, verify, etc.: a check system. |
| 44. | ornamented with a checkered pattern; checkered: a check border. |
| 45. | Chess. (used as a call to warn one's opponent that his or her king is exposed to direct attack, having just one move in which to escape or parry.) |
| 46. | Informal. all right! agreed! |
| 47. | check in, to register, as at a hotel; indicate one's arrival or presence at a place, function, etc., usually by signing an appropriate form: We checked in at the reception desk. |
| 48. | check on or up on, to investigate, scrutinize, or inspect: Don't forget to check on his work. We have to check up on him. |
| 49. | check out,
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| 50. | check over, to examine or investigate, esp. thoroughly. |
| 51. | check the helm, Nautical. to alter the helm of a turning vessel to keep the bow from swinging too far or too rapidly. |
| 52. | in check, under restraint: He held his anger in check. |
check
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check off
Mark as entered, or examined and passed, as in He checked off their names as they arrived. [Early 1800s]