check
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A mark used as an indicator.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
chehkIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈtʃɛk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A control; a limit or stop.
An inspection or examination.
chess
A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
A mark, certificate, or token by which errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified.
A token used instead of cash in various contexts, including sign-out of company property or collection of rations (dated), in gaming machines, or in gambling generally.
A lengthwise separation through the growth rings in wood.
verb
transitiveusoften used with "off"
To mark items on a list (with a checkmark or by crossing them out) that have been chosen for keeping or removal or that have been dealt with (for example, completed or verified as correct or satisfactory).
transitive
To inspect; to examine.
transitive
To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
transitive
To control, limit, or halt.
transitive
To verify or compare with a source of information.
transitive
To leave in safekeeping.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
An attendant who checks coats or baggage.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition.
Credit provided by a bank in honoring a customer's overdrafts.
A register of checks issued (usually in numeric order).
The part of a check that is retained as a record.
Examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition.
A board having 64 squares of two alternating colors.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
A list of items (names or tasks etc.) to be checked or consulted.
A digit representing the sum of the digits in an instance of digital data.
A book issued to holders of checking accounts.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.