[syn: crack, check, break]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Check \Check\ (ch[e^]k), 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.
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2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest;
stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.
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Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress
of Christianity. --Addison.
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No check, no stay, this streamlet fears.
--Wordsworth.
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3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle,
guard, restraint, or rebuff.
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Useful check upon the administration of government.
--Washington.
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A man whom no check could abash. --Macaulay.
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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.
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5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as
therein stated. See Bank check, below.
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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.
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7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to
follow other birds.
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8. Small chick or crack.
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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,
or other conduit, to prevent the return of the feed water
or other fluid.
To take check, to take offense. [Obs.] --Dryden.
Syn: Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction;
reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff;
tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Check \Check\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checked (ch[e^]kt); 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.
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2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to
hinder; to repress; to curb. Hence, (Ice Hockey) To
obstruct the motion of an opposing player by contacting
him with one's body.
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So many clogs to check and retard the headlong
course of violence and oppression. --Burke.
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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. Hence, To
compare with an original or with some standard, to insure
correctness; as, to check an account; to check with a
supervisor about procedures.
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4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
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The good king, his master, will check him for it.
--Shak.
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5. (Naut.) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too
stiffly extended.
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6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the
sun checks timber.
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7. To leave (something) in the temporary custody of another;
as, to check baggage; to check one's firearms at the door;
to check one's coat at the cloakroom.
[PJC]
8. To accept (something) for temporary custody from another;
as, to check a customer's baggage; to check a customer's
coat.
[PJC]
9. To make a checkered pattern upon.
[PJC]
Syn: To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder;
impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove;
rebuff.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Check \Check\ (ch[e^]k), v. i.
To make a stop; to pause; -- with at.
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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.
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2. To clash or interfere. [R.] --Bacon.
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3. To act as a curb or restraint.
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It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
--Dryden.
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4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in
small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
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5. (Falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and
fly after other birds.
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And like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Check \Check\, a.
Checkered; designed in checks.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
check
n 1: a written order directing a bank to pay money; "he paid all
his bills by check" [syn: check, 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, check]
3: the bill in a restaurant; "he asked the waiter for the check"
[syn: check, 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, check, halt, hitch, stay, stop,
stoppage]
5: additional proof that something that was believed (some fact
or hypothesis or theory) is correct; "fossils provided
further confirmation of the evolutionary theory" [syn:
confirmation, verification, check, substantiation]
6: the act of inspecting or verifying; "they made a check of
their equipment"; "the pilot ran through the check-out
procedure" [syn: check, 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, check, tick]
8: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or
progress [syn: hindrance, hinderance, deterrent,
impediment, balk, baulk, check, handicap]
9: a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken
off of something [syn: check, chip]
10: a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a
checkerboard); "she wore a skirt with checks"
11: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess;
"his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn:
bridle, check, curb]
12: obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
13: (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,
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, check, 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, check, 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 near or next to; "Please check each
name on the list"; "tick off the items"; "mark off the units"
[syn: check, check off, mark, mark off, tick off,
tick]
7: slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will
retard the child's language development" [syn: check,
retard, delay]
8: be verified or confirmed; pass inspection; "These stories
don't check!" [syn: check, 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 don't match those on the
gun" [syn: match, fit, correspond, check, jibe,
gibe, tally, agree] [ant: disaccord, disagree,
discord]
10: block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice
hockey
11: develop (children's) behavior by instruction and practice;
especially to teach self-control; "Parents must discipline
their children"; "Is this dog trained?" [syn: discipline,
train, check, condition]
12: consign for shipment on a vehicle; "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
15: stop in a chase especially when scent is lost; "The dog
checked"
16: mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
[syn: check, checker, chequer]
17: decline to initiate betting
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 South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel
movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" [syn: check,
turn back, arrest, stop, contain, hold back]
19: place into check; "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, check, 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:
check, chink]
25: become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The
glass cracked when it was heated" [syn: crack, check,
break]
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
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).