- (n.) 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.
- (n.) A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below.
- (n.) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
- (n.) Small chick or crack.
- (v.i.) To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
- (a.) Checkered; designed in checks.
- (v.i.) To clash or interfere.
- (v.t.) 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.
- (n.) A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.
- (v.t.) To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, especially his king, in check; to put in check.
- (v.t.) To chide, rebuke or reprove.
- (v.i.) To make a stop; to pause; -- with at.
- (v.i.) To act as a curb or restraint.
- (v.t.) To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb.
- (n.) 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.
- (v.i.) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
- (v.t.) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
- (n.) Whatever arrests progress or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint or rebuff.
- (v.t.) To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber.
- (n.) 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). check. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/check/definitions/1986497 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "check" http://smartdefine.org/check/definitions/1986497 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, check, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/check/definitions/1986497>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "check" 27 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/check/definitions/1986497> |