English

Pronunciation

• AHD : chĕk
• IPA : /tʃek/
• SAMPA : /tSek/

Homophones

• cheque
• Czech

Etymology

From Persian چك (Chek) (in the first meaning).

Noun

check (plural: checks )

1. (US) a note promising to pay money to a named person or entity

   I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a check for the amount.

2. a mark like a v or sometimes x used as an indicator; also, a checkmark : √

   Place a check by the things you have done.

3. (usually plural) a pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern

   The tablecloth had red and white checks.

4. a bill, particularly at a restaurant

   I summoned the waiter, paid the check, and hurried to leave.

5. a control; a limit or stop

   checks and balances

6. an inspection ; examination

   I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check.

7. (Chess) The situation in which the king is directly threatened by an enemy piece.

Alternative Spelling

• cheque (1)

Translation

• Finnish: sekki , shekki (1); tarkistusmerkki , pukki (2); ruutukuvio (singular) (3); lasku (4); tarkastus , tutkimus (6); shakki , šakki (7)
• French: chèque m (1), addition f (4)
• German: Scheck m (1), Markierung f (2), Rechnung f (4), Kontrolle f (5,6), Untersuchung f (5,6), Überwachung f (5,6), Schach n (7)
• Ido: cheko
• Indonesian: cek (1), conteng (v-mark), silang (x-mark) (2), kotak (3), bon (4), kendali, kontrol (5), pemeriksaan (6), skak (7)
• Italian: assegno (1)
• Kurdish: çek (1)
• Persian: چك (chek) (1)
• Italian: assegno m (1), segno m (di spunta) (2), scacco m, quadretto m (3), conto m (4), controllo m, verifica f (5,6), scacco n (7)
• Polish: czek m (1), parafka f (2), rachunek m (4), kontrola f (6), szach m (7)
• Slovak: šek m (1), účet m (4), šach m (7)
• Spanish: cheque m (1), cuenta f (4)

Verb

to check (checked , checked)

1. to inspect, examine

   Check the oil in your car once a month.

   Check whether this page has a watermark.

2. to mark with a checkmark

   Check the correct answer to each question.

3. to control, limit, or halt

   Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.

4. to verify or compare with a source of information

   Check your data against known values.

5. to leave in safekeeping

   Check your hat and coat at the door.

6. to leave with shipping agent for shipping

   Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.

Translation

• Finnish: tarkistaa , tutkia (1); merkitä (2); hillitä (3)
• French: vérifier (1)
• German: überprüfen (1), abzeichnen (2), markieren (2), abgleichen (4)
• Ido: kontrolar
• Indonesian: periksa (1), conteng (2), kendali, kontrol (3)
• Italian: controllare (1)
• Spanish: facturar, depositar (6)

Related terms

• checkbook
• checker
• checkers
• checkered
• checkin
• checkmate
• checkout
• checkup
• recheck
• unchecked
• check in
• check it out
• check out
• check up on
• checking account
• checks and balances
• bad check
• bounce a check
• cross-check
• discovered check
• double check
• double-check (Note: completely separate from double check in the chess sense)
• hot check
• kite a check