Definition: check
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
check
n 1: a written order directing a bank to pay money; "he paid all
his bills by check" [syn: bank check, cheque]
2: an appraisal of the state of affairs; "they made an assay of
the contents"; "a check on its dependability under stress"
[syn: assay]
3: the bill in a restaurant; "he asked the waiter for the
check" [syn: chit, tab]
4: the state of inactivity following an interruption; "the
negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check";
"during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay
enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop
in his seat" [syn: arrest, halt, hitch, stay, stop,
stoppage]
5: additional proof that something that was believed is true;
"fossils provided further confirmation of the evolutionary
theory" [syn: confirmation, verification, substantiation]
6: the act of inspecting or verifying; "they made a check of
their equipment"; "the pilot ran through the check-out
procedure" [syn: checkout, check-out procedure]
7: a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed
etc.; "as he called the role he put a check mark by each
student's name" [syn: check mark]
8: a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken
off of something [syn: crack, chip]
9: a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a
checkerboard); "she wore a skirt with checks"
10: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess;
"his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn:
bridle, curb]
11: obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
12: (chess) a direct attack on an opponent's king
v 1: examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition;
"check the brakes"; "Check out the engine" [syn: check
up on, look into, check out, suss out, check
over, go over, check into]
2: make an examination or investigation; "check into the
rumor"; "check the time of the class"
3: be careful or certain to do something; make certain of
something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See
that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the
product" [syn: see, insure, see to it, ensure, control,
ascertain, assure]
4: lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or
keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake" "hold
your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger"
[syn: control, hold in, hold, contain, curb, moderate]
5: stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution; "She
checked for an instant and missed a step"
6: put a check mark on or next to; "Please check each name on
the list" [syn: check off, mark, mark off, tick off]
7: slow the growth or development of [syn: retard]
8: be verified or confirmed; pass inspection; "These stories
don't check!" [syn: check out]
9: be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their
characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many
details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on
the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints do'nt match those
on the gun" [syn: match, fit, correspond, jibe, gibe,
tally, agree] [ant: disagree]
10: block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice
hockey
11: train by instruction and practice; esp. to teach
self-control; "Parents must discipline their children";
"Is this dog trained?" [syn: discipline, train, condition]
12: consign for shipment on a vehicle, as of luggage; "check
your luggage before boarding"
13: hand over something to somebody as for temporary
safekeeping; "Check your coat at the door"
14: abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior
prey, of falcons
15: stop in a chase esp. when scent is lost; "The dog checked"
16: mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
[syn: checker, chequer]
17: decline to initiate betting, in poker
18: hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion
or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the
growth of communism in SE Asia"; "Contain the rebel
movement"; "Turn back athe tide of communism" [syn: turn
back, arrest, stop, contain, hold back]
19: place into check in a game of chess; "He checked my kings"
20: write out a check on a bank account
21: find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by
making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether
she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if
he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on
time" [syn: determine, find out, see, ascertain,
watch, learn]
22: verify by consulting a source or authority; "check the
spelling of this word"; "check your facts"
23: arrest the motion (of something) abruptly; "He checked the
flow of water by shutting off the main valve"
24: make cracks or chinks in; "The heat checked the paint" [syn:
chink]
25: become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The
glass cracked when it was heated" [syn: crack, break]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Check \Check\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checked; p. pr. & vb. n. checking.] 1. (Chess) To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check. 2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb. So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. --Burke. 3. To verify, to guard, to make secure, by means of a mark, token, or other check; to distinguish by a check; to put a mark against (an item) after comparing with an original or a counterpart in order to secure accuracy; as, to check an account; to check baggage. 4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove. The good king, his master, will check him for it. --Shak. 5. (Naut.) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended. 6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber. Syn: To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.
Check \Check\, n. [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. ['e]chec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. ['e]checs chess, through AR., fr. Pers. sh[=a]h king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.] 1. (Chess) A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move. 2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check. Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. --Addison. No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. --Wordsworth. 3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff. Useful check upon the administration of government. --Washington. A man whom no check could abash. --Macaulay. 4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad. 5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below. 6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure. 7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds. 8. Small chick or crack. Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped. Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked. Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it. --Knight. Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler to prevent the return of the feed water. To take check, to take offense. [Obs.] --Dryden. Syn: Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
Check \Check\, v. i.
To make a stop; to pause; -- with at.
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. --Locke.
2. To clash or interfere. [R.] --Bacon.
3. To act as a curb or restraint.
It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
--Dryden.
4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in
small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
5. (Falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and
fly after other birds.
And like the haggard, check at every feather That
comes before his eye. --Shak.
Check \Check\, a. Checkered; designed in checks.
Note: In modern law, proposal and acceptance are the
constituent elements into which all contracts are
resolved.
Acceptance of a bill of exchange, check, draft, or
order, is an engagement to pay it according to the terms.
This engagement is usually made by writing the word
``accepted'' across the face of the bill.
Acceptance of goods, under the statute of frauds, is an
intelligent acceptance by a party knowing the nature of
the transaction.
6. Meaning; acceptation. [Obs.]
Acceptance of persons, partiality, favoritism. See under
Accept.
Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)
check n. A hardware-detected error condition, most commonly used to refer to actual hardware failures rather than software-induced traps. E.g., a `parity check' is the result of a hardware-detected parity error. Recorded here because the word often humorously extended to non-technical problems. For example, the term `child check' has been used to refer to the problems caused by a small child who is curious to know what happens when s/he presses all the cute buttons on a computer's console (of course, this particular problem could have been prevented with molly-guards).
