check
Other forms: checked; checks; checking
Check: Small word, loads of different meanings. One of the most common is "to inspect or verify." You might check the oven to see if your cookies are done.
A few of the many meanings of check: As a noun: the act of restraining power or action; a pattern of squares resembling a checkerboard; a restaurant bill; a financial instrument payable to the named bearer (from your checkbook); a mark indicating that something's been noted or finished. As a verb: to crack on the surface; to slow or delay growth; to obstruct your hockey opponent; to hand over for inventory and safekeeping, especially baggage on a plane.
Definitions of check
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examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition“check the brakes”“Check out the engine”
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synonyms:
check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
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types:
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follow, keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over
follow with the eyes or the mind
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keep tabs on
keep a record on or watch attentively
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guard
keep watch over
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invigilate, proctor
watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating)
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make an examination or investigation“check into the rumor”“check the time of the class”
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types:
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screen, test
test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
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countercheck
check a second time
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breathalyse, breathalyze
test someone's alcohol level in his blood by means of a breathalyzer
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screen, test
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be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
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check off, mark, mark off, tick, tick off
put a check mark on or near or next to
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ascertain, determine, find out, learn, see, watch
find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
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control, verify
check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard
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types:
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proof, proofread
read for errors
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control
verify by using a duplicate register for comparison
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double-check
check once more to be absolutely sure
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cross-check
check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example
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cinch
make sure of
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card
ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor
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spot-check
pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality
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cover
maintain a check on; especially by patrolling
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type of:
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verify
confirm the truth of
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check off, mark, mark off, tick, tick off
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verify by consulting a source or authority
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find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort“Check whether the train leaves on time”
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ascertain, assure, control, ensure, insure, see, see to it
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
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ascertain, determine, find, find out
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
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types:
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test
determine the presence or properties of (a substance)
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ascertain, assure, control, ensure, insure, see, see to it
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be verified or confirmed; pass inspection
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be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics“The handwriting checks with the signature on the check”
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check out
be verified or confirmed; pass inspection
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accord, agree, comport, concord, consort, fit in, harmonise, harmonize
be harmonious or consistent with
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types:
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consist
be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous
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look
accord in appearance with
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answer
match or correspond
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coincide
be the same
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align
be or come into adjustment with
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correlate
bear a reciprocal or mutual relation
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parallel
be parallel to
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duplicate, parallel, twin
duplicate or match
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square
be compatible with
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bear out, corroborate, support, underpin
support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
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resemble
appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
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conform to, fit, meet
satisfy a condition or restriction
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homologize
be homologous
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befit, beseem, suit
accord or comport with
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accord, agree, comport, concord, consort, fit in, harmonise, harmonize
be harmonious or consistent with
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pattern
form a pattern
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adhere, hew
be compatible or in accordance with
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rhyme, rime
be similar in sound, especially with respect to the last syllable
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coordinate
be co-ordinated
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look like
bear a physical resemblance to
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come to life
be lifelike, as of a painting
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take after
be similar to a relative
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approximate, come close
be close or similar
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fill the bill, fit the bill
be what is needed or be good enough for what is required
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behoove, behove
be appropriate or necessary
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fulfil, fulfill, live up to, satisfy
meet the requirements or expectations of
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imitate
appear like, as in behavior or appearance
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echo, recall
call to mind
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blend, blend in, go
blend or harmonize
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accommodate, fit, suit
be agreeable or acceptable to
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assonate
correspond in vowel sounds; rhyme in assonance
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check out
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hand over something to somebody as for temporary safekeeping
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consign for shipment on a vehicle
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develop (children's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control
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an appraisal of the state of affairs“a check on its dependability under stress”
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synonyms:
assay
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types:
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countercheck, double check
something that checks the correctness of a previous check
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Apgar score
an assessment of the physical condition of a newborn infant; involves heart rate and muscle tone and respiratory effort and color and reflex responsiveness
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paternity test
a test based on blood groups to determine whether a particular man could be the biological father of a particular child; negative results prove he was not the father but positive results show only that he could be
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stress test
a test measuring how a system functions when subjected to controlled amounts of stress
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treadmill test
a stress test in which the patient walks on a moving treadmill while the heart and breathing rates are monitored
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type of:
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appraisal, assessment
the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
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the act of inspecting or verifying“they made a check of their equipment”“the pilot ran through the check-out procedure”
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synonyms:
check-out procedure, checkout
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types:
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spot check
a check on work performance or product quality made at random times without warning
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type of:
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inspection, review
a formal or official examination
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spot check
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additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct
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synonyms:
confirmation, substantiation, verification
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types:
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bed check
a check that everyone is in bed by the time they should be
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crosscheck
an instance of confirming something by considering information from several sources
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odd-even check, parity check, redundancy check
a system of checking for errors in computer functioning
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checksum
a digit representing the sum of the digits in an instance of digital data; used to check whether errors have occurred in transmission or storage
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type of:
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cogent evidence, proof
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
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lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
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types:
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bound, confine, limit, restrain, restrict, throttle, trammel
place limits on (extent or access)
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conquer, curb, inhibit, stamp down, subdue, suppress
to put down by force or authority
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damp
restrain or discourage
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crucify, mortify, subdue
hold within limits and control
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abnegate, deny
deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure
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restrict
place under restrictions; limit access to
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train
cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it
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catch
check oneself during an action
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bate
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
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thermostat
control the temperature with a thermostat
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counteract, countercheck
oppose or check by a counteraction
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blink, blink away, wink
force to go away by blinking
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reduce, tighten
narrow or limit
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tie
limit or restrict to
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gate
restrict (school boys') movement to the dormitory or campus as a means of punishment
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draw a line, draw the line
reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on)
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mark off, mark out
set boundaries to and delimit
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harness, rein, rule
keep in check
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baffle, regulate
check the emission of (sound)
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cramp, halter, hamper, strangle
prevent the progress or free movement of
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dampen, stifle
smother or suppress
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choke back, choke down, choke off
suppress
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constrain, stiffen, tighten, tighten up
restrict
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clamp down, crack down
repress or suppress (something regarded as undesirable)
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hush, hush up, quieten, shut up, silence, still
cause to be quiet or not talk
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constrict, inhibit
limit the range or extent of
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burke
get rid of, silence, or suppress
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silence
keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
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quell, quench, squelch
suppress or crush completely
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constrain, cumber, encumber, restrain
hold back
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muffle, repress, smother, stifle, strangle
conceal or hide
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mortify
practice self-denial of one's body and appetites
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classify
declare unavailable, as for security reasons
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taboo
declare as sacred and forbidden
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trellis
train on a trellis, as of a vine
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scant, skimp
limit in quality or quantity
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localise, localize
restrict something to a particular area
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slow the growth or development of
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hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of
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arrest the motion (of something) abruptly
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stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution
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stop in a chase especially when scent is lost
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abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior prey
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the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
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something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
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synonyms:
balk, baulk, deterrent, handicap, hinderance, hindrance, impediment
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types:
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albatross, millstone
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
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bind
something that hinders as if with bonds
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diriment impediment
(canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage)
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drag
something that slows or delays progress
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obstacle, obstruction
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
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straitjacket
anything immaterial that severely hinders or confines
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barrier, roadblock
any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective
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hang-up, hitch, rub, snag
an unforeseen obstacle
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hurdle
an obstacle that you are expected to overcome
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stymie, stymy
a thwarting and distressing situation
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type of:
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difficulty
a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result
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the state of inactivity following an interruption“held them in check”
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types:
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countercheck
a check that restrains another check
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logjam
any stoppage attributable to unusual activity
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type of:
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inaction, inactiveness, inactivity
the state of being inactive
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countercheck
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a written order directing a bank to pay money“he paid all his bills by check”
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synonyms:
bank check, cheque
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types:
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bad check, bad cheque
a check that is dishonored on presentation because of insufficient funds
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kite
a bank check drawn on insufficient funds at another bank in order to take advantage of the float
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kite
a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
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counter check
a blank check provided by a bank for the convenience of customers who are making withdrawals
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giro, giro cheque
a check given by the British government to someone who is unemployed; it can be cashed either at a bank or at the post office
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paycheck, payroll check
a check issued in payment of wages or salary
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certified check, certified cheque
a check containing certification that the person who issued the check has sufficient funds on deposit to cover payment
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personal check, personal cheque
a check drawn against funds deposited in your personal checking account
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cashier's check, cashier's cheque, treasurer's check, treasurer's cheque
a check issued by the officer of a bank on the banks own account (not that of a private person)
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blank check, blank cheque
a check that has been signed but with the amount payable left blank
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medicare check, medicare payment
a check reimbursing an aged person for the expenses of health care
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type of:
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bill of exchange, draft, order of payment
a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
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the bill in a restaurant
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write out a check on a bank account
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a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed etc.
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synonyms:
check mark, tick
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type of:
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mark
a written or printed symbol (as for punctuation)
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mark
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put a check mark on or near or next to“Please check each name on the list”
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check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
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ascertain, assure, control, ensure, insure, see, see to it
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
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check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
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a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a checkerboard)“she wore a skirt with checks”
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types:
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dog's-tooth check, dogs-tooth check, dogstooth check, hound's-tooth check, houndstooth check
textile with a pattern of small broken or jagged checks
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type of:
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weave
pattern of weaving or structure of a fabric
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dog's-tooth check, dogs-tooth check, dogstooth check, hound's-tooth check, houndstooth check
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mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
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make cracks or chinks in
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become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
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types:
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crack
break partially but keep its integrity
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chap
crack due to dehydration
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craze
develop a fine network of cracks
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alligator
crack and acquire the appearance of alligator hide, as from weathering or improper application; of paint and varnishes
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type of:
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change
undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
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a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken off of something
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(chess) a direct attack on an opponent's king
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types:
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discovered check
a check on the opponent's king that is delivered by moving a piece out of the line of attack by a queen or rook or bishop
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type of:
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chess move
the act of moving a chess piece
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discovered check
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place into check
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block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey
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obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
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types:
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crosscheck
an illegal check (chopping at an opponent's arms or stick)
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poke check
knocking the puck away by jabbing at it with the hockey stick
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type of:
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obstruction
getting in someone's way
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crosscheck
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decline to initiate betting
Pronunciation
US
/tʃɛk/
UK
/tʃɛk/
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