Meaning of check In English

• 0 to make certain that something or someone is correct, safe, or suitable by examining it, him, or her quickly:

  • You should always check your oil, water, and tyres before taking your car on a long trip.

  • Customs stopped us and checked (= searched) our bags for alcohol and cigarettes.

  • After I'd finished the exam, I checked my answers for mistakes.

  • The doctor will call next week to check on your progress.

  • I check on (= visits) our elderly neighbour every few days to make sure that he's alright.

  • [ + (that) ] I always check (that) I've shut the windows before I leave the house.

  • He double-checked all the doors (= checked them all twice) before leaving the house.

  • [ + question word ] I called them yesterday to check when they were arriving.

  • [ + to infinitive ] If you're near the garage, could you check to see (= ask) if the car's ready?

  • If you're unsure of your legal rights, I would check with (= ask) a lawyer.

• 1 to stop someone from doing or saying something, or to prevent something from increasing or continuing:

  • They have begun to vaccinate children in an attempt to check the spread of the disease.

• 2 to give your bags to airport employees to be put on a plane for you, rather than carrying them on and off the plane yourself :

  • I got my boarding pass and checked my suitcase.

  • Many airlines charge extra for checked bags/baggage/luggage.

  • It was hot so we checked our coats before going round the gallery.

• 3 If information checks, it agrees with other information:

  • Her statement checks with most of the eye-witness reports.

• 4 to mark something with a check:

  • Check (off) each item on the list as you complete it.

• 5 in the game of chess, to put the other player's king under direct attack, so that he or she is forced to defend against the attack in the next move

• 6 in some sports such as ice hockey, to try to make another player lose the ball or puck, for example, by pushing them

• 7 US spelling of cheque UK

• 8 an examination of something in order to make certain that it is correct or the way it should be:

  • The soldiers gave their equipment a final check before setting off.

  • "I can't find my keys." "Have another check in/through your jacket pockets."

  • Security checks have become really strict at the airport.

  • The police are carrying out spot checks on (= quick examinations of a limited number of) drivers over the Christmas period to test for alcohol levels.

  • It's my job to keep a check on stock levels.

  • I'll just run a check on (= find information about) that name for you in the computer.

• 9 a pattern of squares formed by lines of different colours crossing each other:

  • a shirt with a pattern of blue and yellow checks

  • a grey check suit

• 10 a bill in a restaurant, etc.:

  • Can I have the check, please?

• 11 to limit something:

  • We need to find ways of keeping our expenditure in check.

  • A system of checks and balances exists to ensure that our government is truly democratic.

• 12 a mark (✓) that shows that something is correct or has been done:

  • Put a check by/against the names of the people who have accepted the invitation.

• 13 in chess, the act of directly attacking the other player's king:

  • I think I should have given check (= attacked my opponent's king) at move 23 instead of trying to find a safer square for the rook.

  • Your king is in check from my knight.

• 14 in some sports such as ice hockey, a defensive move (= trying to prevent scoring) in which a player tries to make another player lose the ball or puck, for example, by pushing them

• 15 used to say yes to someone who is making certain that all the things on a list have been dealt with or included:

  • "Did you bring your sleeping bag?" "Check." "Pillow?" "Check."

• 16 something you say in chess, if you directly attack the other player's king

• 17 to look at or give your attention to something to get information, often to help you decide if something is correct, safe, or suitable:

  • [ + to infinitive ] Check to see what the weather is like outside.

  • [ T ] I brought the car to the garage to have the brakes checked.

  • [ T ] We checked our records for any information about him.

  • [ I ] We have a claim for lost luggage, and we are checking into it.

  • [ T ] The doctors checked his heart and said it was fine.

  • [ T ] Before you hand in your papers, check your spelling.

• 18 to stop someone from doing or saying something, or to prevent something from increasing or continuing:

  • He started to interrupt but checked himself and said nothing.

  • The program is designed to check the spread of malaria.

• 19 to leave your outer clothing or property temporarily in the care of someone else, usually as a convenience:

  • Let’s check our coats before going through the galleries.

  • Passengers on this flight will be allowed one carry-on bag, and will have to check any additional bags.

• 20 to mark items to show your preferences:

  • Check the box corresponding to the correct answer to each question.

• 21 a printed form, used instead of money, to make payments from your bank account:

  • I’ve got to cash my pay check.

  • She wrote me a check for $120.

• 22 a pattern made of different colored squares, or one of these squares:

  • The shirt has a pattern of blue and yellow checks.

• 23 a sign (✓) that shows that something is correct or done or has been examined:

  • Put a check next to the names of the people who have already paid for their tickets.

• 24 a request for payment of money owed to a restaurant, or the piece of paper on which it is written:

  • Waiter, may I have the check, please?

• 25 the act of looking at or giving your attention to something to get information, often to help you decide if something is correct, safe, or suitable:

  • The FBI did a thorough background check on him (= looked into his past experience and relationships).

• 26 a way to stop someone from doing or saying something, or to prevent something from increasing or continuing:

  • New rules would put a check on rising interest rates.

• 27 the ticket or small object that you are given and that you use to get back your coat or other personal possessions left in the care of someone else for a short period:

  • I thought I put the coat check in my pocket.

• 28 to make certain that something or someone is correct, safe, or suitable, for example by examining it or them, or by asking someone:

  • When the shipment arrived, she checked to make sure nothing was broken.

  • A security officer checked our bags at the entrance to the building.

  • I'd like to check my bank balance, please.

  • check on sth The supervisor will check on your progress next week.

  • check (sth) for sth Always check your reports for spelling errors before you hand them in.

  • check (sth) with sb Please could you check the figures with the sales manager?

  • check that Check that you have all the necessary documentation before you travel.

• 29 to prevent something from increasing or continuing:

  • Our first priority is to control public spending and check inflation.

  • We tried to check the spread of the rumour that the company was being sold.

• 30 to leave something with someone at a particular place, so that they can take care of it for a short time, or so it can be put on a plane or train:

  • Please check your coats at the coatroom prior to the meeting.

  • He checked his baggage as soon as he got to the airport.

  • These articles may only be carried in checked baggage.

• 31 to make a mark next to an item on a list, or to click on a checkbox on a computer screen in order to make a choice:

  • Please check the box above to agree to our terms and conditions.

• 32 if information checks, it makes it likely that other information is true:

  • check with sth Her statement checks with most of the eye-witness reports.

• 33 →  cheque

• 34 →  check mark :

  • Put a check beside each item that you wish to order.

• 35 an examination of something in order to make certain that it is correct or the way that it should be:

  • give sth a check Give the invoice another check before you seal the carton.

  • carry out/do a check (on/of sth) They carried out a check of all the electrical equipment.

  • regular/routine check A regular check is done on all our equipment.

  • quick/thorough check All these documents will need a thorough check before you send them off.

  • keep a check on sth It's my job to keep a check on stock levels.

  • Security checks at airports have become very strict.

• 36 an examination of somebody to see if they are healthy or have a medical problem:

  • health/medical check Purchasers of the policy will be required to undergo a medical check.

• 37 a piece of paper given to you when you have finished eating at a restaurant, showing how much money you owe:

  • Can we have the check, please?

• 38 something that stops something else from increasing or getting worse:

  • keep a check on sth The new administration is expected to keep a tight check on inflation.

  • act/serve as a check on sth These controls are designed to act as a check on fraud.

• 39 to put a limit on something so that it does not increase or become worse:

  • We must find ways of keeping our expenditure in check.

• 40 rules intended to prevent one person or group from having too much power within a country or an organization:

  • A system of checks and balances exists to ensure that our government is truly democratic.

  • Many executives amassed enormous power by ignoring the normal checks and balances of the financial world.