check
♦♦ check /tʃ'ek/ (checks checking checked)
1 [VERB] V n, V, V wh, V that, V with n
If you check something such as a piece of information or a document, you make sure that it is correct or satisfactory.
Check the accuracy of everything in your CV...
I think there is an age limit, but I'd have to check...
She hadn't checked whether she had a clean ironed shirt...
He checked that he had his room key...
I shall need to check with the duty officer.
see also cross-check
[N-COUNT] usu with supp
Check is also a noun.
He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure.
...a security check.
2 [VERB] V on n
If you check on someone or something, you make sure they are in a safe or satisfactory condition.
He decided to check on things at the warehouse.
3 [VERB] V n
If you check something that is written on a piece of paper, you put a mark, like a V with the right side extended, next to it to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, usually use tick)
Frequently, men who check answer (b) have not actually had the experience of being repeatedly rejected by women.
4 [VERB] V n
To check something, usually something bad, means to stop it from spreading or continuing.
Sex education is also expected to help check the spread of AIDS.
= curb
5 [VERB] V pron-refl, V n
If you check yourself or if something checks you, you suddenly stop what you are doing or saying.
He was about to lose his temper but checked himself in time...
I held up one finger to check him.
6 [VERB] V n
When you check your luggage at an airport, you give it to an official so that it can be taken on to your plane.
We arrived at the airport, checked our baggage and wandered around the gift shops...
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To check in your luggage means the same as to check it.
They checked in their luggage and found seats in the departure lounge.
7 [N-COUNT]
The check in a restaurant is a piece of paper on which the price of your meal is written and which you are given before you pay. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use bill)
= bill
8 [CONVENTION]
In a game of chess, you say check when you are attacking your opponent's king.
9 [N-COUNT] oft N n
A pattern of squares, usually of two colours, can be referred to as checks or a check.
Styles include stripes and checks.
...a red and white check dress.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something or someone is held in check or is kept in check, they are controlled and prevented from becoming too great or powerful.
Life on Earth will become unsustainable unless population growth is held in check...
11
A check is the same as a cheque. (AM)
12
see also double-check, rain check, cash|ier's check (cashier's checks)
[N-COUNT]
A cashier's check is one which a cashier signs and which is drawn on a bank's own funds. (AM)check in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n, V n P
When you check in or check into a hotel or clinic, or if someone checks you in, you arrive and go through the necessary procedures before you stay there.
I'll ring the hotel. I'll tell them we'll check in tomorrow...
He has checked into an alcohol treatment centre...
Check us in at the hotel and wait for my call.
= register
≠ check out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you check in at an airport, you arrive and show your ticket before going on a flight.
He had checked in at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport for a flight to Manchester.
see also check-in, check 6check mark (check marks)
[N-COUNT]
A check mark is a written mark like a V with the right side extended. It is used to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, use tick)check off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you check things off, you check or count them while referring to a list of them, to make sure you have considered all of them.
Once you've checked off the items you ordered, put this record in your file...
I haven't checked them off but I would say that's about the number.
= tick offcheck out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P of n, V P, V n P of n, also V P n (not pron), V n P
When you check out of a hotel or clinic where you have been staying, or if someone checks you out, you pay the bill and leave.
They packed and checked out of the hotel...
I was disappointed to miss Bryan, who had just checked out...
I'd like to check him out of here the day after tomorrow.
≠ check in
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you check out something or someone, you find out information about them to make sure that everything is correct or satisfactory.
Maybe we ought to go down to the library and check it out...
The police had to check out the call.
= investigate
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V
If something checks out, it is correct or satisfactory.
She was in San Diego the weekend Jensen got killed. It checked out...
4
see also checkoutcheck up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, V P
If you check up on something, you find out information about it.
It is certainly worth checking up on your benefit entitlements...
The Government employs tax inspectors to check up and make sure people pay all their tax.
see also check-up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n
If you check up on someone, you obtain information about them, usually secretly.
I'm sure he knew I was checking up on him.rain check (rain checks)
1 [N-SING]
If you say you will take a rain check on an offer or suggestion, you mean that you do not want to accept it now, but you might accept it at another time.
Can I take a rain check on that?
2 [N-COUNT]
A rain check is a free ticket that is given to people when an outdoor game or event is stopped because of rain or bad weather, so that they can go to it when it is held again. (AM)re|al|ity check (reality checks)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that something is a reality check for someone, you mean that it makes them recognize the truth about a situation, especially about the difficulties involved in something they want to achieve.
Jones's wise words are a timely reality check for many at the club who believe the great days are just around the corner.spot check (spot checks)
also spot-check
[N-COUNT] oft N on n
If someone carries out a spot check, they examine one thing from a group in order to make sure that it is satisfactory.
1 [VERB] V n, V, V wh, V that, V with n
If you check something such as a piece of information or a document, you make sure that it is correct or satisfactory.
Check the accuracy of everything in your CV...
I think there is an age limit, but I'd have to check...
She hadn't checked whether she had a clean ironed shirt...
He checked that he had his room key...
I shall need to check with the duty officer.
see also cross-check
[N-COUNT] usu with supp
Check is also a noun.
He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure.
...a security check.
2 [VERB] V on n
If you check on someone or something, you make sure they are in a safe or satisfactory condition.
He decided to check on things at the warehouse.
3 [VERB] V n
If you check something that is written on a piece of paper, you put a mark, like a V with the right side extended, next to it to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, usually use tick)
Frequently, men who check answer (b) have not actually had the experience of being repeatedly rejected by women.
4 [VERB] V n
To check something, usually something bad, means to stop it from spreading or continuing.
Sex education is also expected to help check the spread of AIDS.
= curb
5 [VERB] V pron-refl, V n
If you check yourself or if something checks you, you suddenly stop what you are doing or saying.
He was about to lose his temper but checked himself in time...
I held up one finger to check him.
6 [VERB] V n
When you check your luggage at an airport, you give it to an official so that it can be taken on to your plane.
We arrived at the airport, checked our baggage and wandered around the gift shops...
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To check in your luggage means the same as to check it.
They checked in their luggage and found seats in the departure lounge.
7 [N-COUNT]
The check in a restaurant is a piece of paper on which the price of your meal is written and which you are given before you pay. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use bill)
= bill
8 [CONVENTION]
In a game of chess, you say check when you are attacking your opponent's king.
9 [N-COUNT] oft N n
A pattern of squares, usually of two colours, can be referred to as checks or a check.
Styles include stripes and checks.
...a red and white check dress.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something or someone is held in check or is kept in check, they are controlled and prevented from becoming too great or powerful.
Life on Earth will become unsustainable unless population growth is held in check...
11
A check is the same as a cheque. (AM)
12
see also double-check, rain check, cash|ier's check (cashier's checks)
[N-COUNT]
A cashier's check is one which a cashier signs and which is drawn on a bank's own funds. (AM)check in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n, V n P
When you check in or check into a hotel or clinic, or if someone checks you in, you arrive and go through the necessary procedures before you stay there.
I'll ring the hotel. I'll tell them we'll check in tomorrow...
He has checked into an alcohol treatment centre...
Check us in at the hotel and wait for my call.
= register
≠ check out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you check in at an airport, you arrive and show your ticket before going on a flight.
He had checked in at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport for a flight to Manchester.
see also check-in, check 6check mark (check marks)
[N-COUNT]
A check mark is a written mark like a V with the right side extended. It is used to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. (AM; in BRIT, use tick)check off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you check things off, you check or count them while referring to a list of them, to make sure you have considered all of them.
Once you've checked off the items you ordered, put this record in your file...
I haven't checked them off but I would say that's about the number.
= tick offcheck out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P of n, V P, V n P of n, also V P n (not pron), V n P
When you check out of a hotel or clinic where you have been staying, or if someone checks you out, you pay the bill and leave.
They packed and checked out of the hotel...
I was disappointed to miss Bryan, who had just checked out...
I'd like to check him out of here the day after tomorrow.
≠ check in
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you check out something or someone, you find out information about them to make sure that everything is correct or satisfactory.
Maybe we ought to go down to the library and check it out...
The police had to check out the call.
= investigate
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V
If something checks out, it is correct or satisfactory.
She was in San Diego the weekend Jensen got killed. It checked out...
4
see also checkoutcheck up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, V P
If you check up on something, you find out information about it.
It is certainly worth checking up on your benefit entitlements...
The Government employs tax inspectors to check up and make sure people pay all their tax.
see also check-up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n
If you check up on someone, you obtain information about them, usually secretly.
I'm sure he knew I was checking up on him.rain check (rain checks)
1 [N-SING]
If you say you will take a rain check on an offer or suggestion, you mean that you do not want to accept it now, but you might accept it at another time.
Can I take a rain check on that?
2 [N-COUNT]
A rain check is a free ticket that is given to people when an outdoor game or event is stopped because of rain or bad weather, so that they can go to it when it is held again. (AM)re|al|ity check (reality checks)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that something is a reality check for someone, you mean that it makes them recognize the truth about a situation, especially about the difficulties involved in something they want to achieve.
Jones's wise words are a timely reality check for many at the club who believe the great days are just around the corner.spot check (spot checks)
also spot-check
[N-COUNT] oft N on n
If someone carries out a spot check, they examine one thing from a group in order to make sure that it is satisfactory.