From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcheckcheck1 /tʃek/ ●●● S1 W2 verb 1 find out [intransitive, transitive]CHECK/MAKE SURE to do something in order to find out whether something really is correct, true, or in good condition Check the tiles carefully before you buy them. A first rule in solving any mystery is to check the facts. Fill in the cash book carefully and always check your calculations.check (that) Check that all the doors are locked securely.check whether/how/who etc Let me just check whether the potatoes are cooked. They paused to check how the other climbers were getting on.check (something) for something I checked the typing for errors. Turn the tap on and check for leaks.check something against/with something (=compare something with something else to see whether they are the same) You must check the evidence against other sources and decide if it is reliable. Positive test results are double-checked (=looked at twice) to make absolutely sure.2 ask somebody [intransitive, transitive]CHECK/MAKE SURE to ask someone whether something is correct, true, or allowed I’m not authorized to give you a refund – I’ll have to check first.check (that) Make a phone call to check that you’re writing to the right person.check whether/how/who etc Call the factory to check whether the beds can be delivered today.check with Check with your doctor before going on a diet.3 not do something [transitive]PREVENT to suddenly stop yourself from saying or doing something because you realize it would be better not to I had to check the urge to laugh out loud.check yourself He grinned, and then checked himself, not wanting to upset Jack.4 stop something [transitive]PREVENT to stop something bad from getting worse or continuing to happen The police are failing to take adequate measures to check the growth in crime.5 bags/cases etc [transitive] American English, check in British EnglishTTA to leave your bags at an official place so they can be put on a plane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this Any luggage over five kilos must be checked. 6 make a markMAKE A MARK [transitive] American English to make a mark (✓) next to an answer, something on a list etc to show you have chosen it, that it is correct, or that you have dealt with it SYN tick British English7 → CheckTHESAURUScheck to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properlyI’ll just check the water level in the battery.The immigration officer checked their passports.We need to check the building for structural damage.examine to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out something about itExperts who examined the painting believe it is genuine.The police will examine the weapon for fingerprints.inspect to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly, especially when it is your job to do thisThe building is regularly inspected by a fire-safety officer.Some insurance people have already been here to inspect the damage caused by the storm.go through something to examine something such as a document or plan from beginning to end, especially in order to check that it is correctYou should go through the contract before you sign.I’ve finished my essay, but I just need to go through it to check for spelling mistakes.double-check to check something again so that you are completely sure it is correct, safe, or working properlyI double-checked all my calculations and they seemed fine.Travellers should double-check flight information before setting off today.test to examine or use something in order to find out whether it works or what its qualities are, or in order to check that it is satisfactoryTest your brakes to check they are working correctly.These products have not been tested on animals.monitor to carefully watch or keep checking someone or something in order to see what happens over a period of timeDoctors monitored her progress during the night.Observers have been monitoring the situation in Burma closely. → check in → check something ↔ off → check on somebody/something → check out → check something/somebody ↔ over → check up on somebody/something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
check• "Are you sure this is the right phone number?" "Yes, I've just checked."• "Can I exchange this for a smaller size?" "You should be able to. Let me check."• "We have milk, don't we?" "Uh, I'll check."• She frowned, and checked again, her eyes widening in amazement.• Their passports were checked by immigration officers at the airport.• Before your trip, check if your insurance covers you abroad.• You must evaluate your evidence, check it against other sources and decide if it is reliable.• That bag's too large to take on the plane - I can check it for you.• If a source can not be stated and therefore checked, it must be suspect.• I want to check my voice mail.• My idea of checking out a tunnel is throwing a hand grenade down it.• The mobile phone is constantly in use as he checks, queries and informs staff.• I'll just check that I locked the door.• Check that the meat is cooked thoroughly before serving it.• It is not possible to check the accuracy of the figures.• We need to check the building for structural damage.• If you are manually recording in a diary a secretary should check the dates three months in advance on a daily basis.• You'd better check the figures one more time - we don't want any mistakes.• Doctors are trying to check the spread of the disease with drugs.• Let's check to see if she's OK.check (that)• However, critics say not all states have the capability or resources to conduct instant checks.• Otherwise, the company will deduct 2 percent of our travel costs from our reimbursement checks.• Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he checked his watch.• They run computer checks on their opponent.• Recently this liberalisation of trade has been checked, or at least slowed, by a whole series of actions.• Finally, check that you have a supply of spare lamps for each lighting set you are using.• In this case another usher or bridesmaid could take over the duty of checking the microphone.• The question that has to be asked is this: Who checks the moral credentials of the moralists?check (that)• However, critics say not all states have the capability or resources to conduct instant checks.• Otherwise, the company will deduct 2 percent of our travel costs from our reimbursement checks.• Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he checked his watch.• They run computer checks on their opponent.• Recently this liberalisation of trade has been checked, or at least slowed, by a whole series of actions.• Finally, check that you have a supply of spare lamps for each lighting set you are using.• In this case another usher or bridesmaid could take over the duty of checking the microphone.• The question that has to be asked is this: Who checks the moral credentials of the moralists? check yourself• Jay was given to grandiloquent rambling, and had to check herself.• Stepping into the lift, Wexford decided to do the London checking himself.• We checked ourselves, gasping, our little hearts lunging in our chests, ensuring that continence had not been lost.• Tom had to check himself from whistling.• She had, lately, almost come to this point with Gildas, but had checked herself in time.• She checks herself into the psychiatric ward of our local hospital.• He checked himself over to make sure there was no blood on his clothes.• Then she checked herself, realising she was wandering in her mind.CheckCheckAmerican English spoken say this when someone mentions each thing on a list, to tell them that you have it or have done it ‘Passport?’ ‘Check.’ ‘Ticket?’ ‘Check’. → checkcheckcheck2 ●●● S1 W3 noun 1 finding out [countable]CHECK/MAKE SURE the process of finding out if something is safe, correct, true, or in the condition it should becheck on the need for tighter checks on arms sales Conduct regular checks on your water quality.run/carry out/make a check I decided to run a check on all personnel. I keep a careful check on my blood pressure.have a check British English Have a check in your bag first and see if it’s there. the airport’s routine security checks random drug checkshealth/medical/dental etc check (=a test done to make sure you are healthy)spot check (=a quick check of one thing among a group of things, that you do without warning) a spot check on the accounts2 → keep/hold somebody/something in check3 a control on something [countable usually singular]CONTROL something that controls something else and stops it from getting worse, continuing to happen etccheck on Higher interest rates will act as a check on public spending.4 → checks and balances5 pattern [countable, uncountable]CF a pattern of squares, especially on cloth a shirt with brown and black checkscheck suit/jacket etc (=made with cloth patterned with checks) a blue cotton check dress → checked6 from your bank [countable]PAY FOR the American spelling of chequecheck for a check for $30by check Can I pay by check?7 in a restaurant [countable] American English a list that you are given in a restaurant showing what you have eaten and how much you must pay SYN bill British English► see thesaurus at bill8 → coat/hat check9 mark [countable] American EnglishWRITE a mark (✓) that you put next to an answer to show that it is correct or next to something on a list to show that you have dealt with it SYN tick British English10 chess [uncountable]DGB the position of the king (=most important piece) in chess where it can be directly attacked by the opponent’s piecesCOLLOCATIONSverbsdo a checkI did a quick check of all the windows, locked the door and left.make a check (=do a check)One of the nurses makes regular checks during the night.run a check (=especially on something that is strange or suspicious)You should run a virus check before downloading from the Internet.carry out/conduct a check formal (=do or run a check)The police carried out a check on the car’s registration number.have a check British EnglishAlways have a final check to make sure you’ve got your ticket and passport.give something a checkI’d like you to give the car a careful check.keep a check on somebody/something (=check something regularly)Keep a check on your baby’s temperature.go for a medical/dental etc checkShe advised me to go for a medical check.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + check a quick checkA quick check showed that someone had been in the room.a thorough/careful checkAn engineer gave the computer a thorough check.a routine check (=happening as a normal part of a process)I went to the doctor for a routine health check.a random check (=done without any definite pattern)Customs officials were carrying out random checks on cars.a regular checkIt’s vital to keep a regular check on your bank balance.a close check (=a careful one)His teacher was keeping a close check on his progress.a safety/security checkThe security checks at the airport can take a long time.a health/medical checkPeople over 60 should have regular medical checks.a background check (=to get information about someone’s previous work, education, family etc)The company conducts background checks on security employees.a credit check (=to get information about someone’s financial history)Banks usually do a credit check before they give you a loan.a spot check (=a quick check of one thing in a group done to obtain information)They did a spot check on 160 vehicles to see how many passengers were wearing seat belts.a spell check (=a process in which a computer program tells you if you have spelt words wrong)Have you done a spell check on your essay? Examples from the Corpus
check• Each time you come across a skill you used in the story place a check next to it in the appropriate column.• The agency does background checks on all the nannies it hires.• Oil change, check and adjustment services follow every subsequent 6,000 miles, with a major service scheduled every 36,000 miles.• They run computer checks on their opponent.• There are regular checks on the quality of goods leaving our factory.• All routine safety checks were carried out before the flight.• a security check• Then he wrote out a sizable check of his own and handed it to another Republic sportswriter.• Spot checks by customs officers led to the arrest of several drug smugglers.• May I have the check, please?• A waiter came over and handed me the check.• Let me pay the check.• a tablecloth with red and white checkscheck on• The commission serves as a check on telephone service monopolies.check suit/jacket etc• There was Philippa Mannering looking avid in a beautifully cut check suit and a brown beret at a rakish angle.• One man, wearing a cowboy hat and a loud check jacket, clashed somewhat with the overcoats and pinstripes.• In came Mr Wormwood in a loud check suit and a yellow tie.• I mentioned that the man I had spoken to had an old check suit and a limp.• He clashed striped shirts, check jackets and spotted ties.• Over the back of a chair was slung a black-and-tan check jacket which would look wrong with the blue trousers.check for• She gave the family a check for $2450.From Longman Business Dictionarycheckcheck1 /tʃek/ noun1[countable] American EnglishBANKING the American spelling of CHEQUEAfter a minute, she wrote out the check and placed it on the table.2[countable] an examination or investigation of something to see that it is correct, true, or safe and in the condition it should beThe fund is monitored regularly by carrying out a check of all outgoing payments against the register.You can get a free safety check on your gas fire from British Gas.I passed my medical check and was then sent to HQ.3keep a check on to watch or examine something regularly to make sure that it is correct, true, or safe and in the condition it should beIt’s important to keep a constant check on cashflow.4[countable, uncountable] something that controls another thing and stops it from happening more or getting worseHigher interest rates act as a check on government spending.5keep/hold something in check to keep something under controlThe bank may have to raise interest rates further to keep inflation in check. 6[countable] American English the bill you are given in a restaurant at the end of your meal, showing what you have eaten and the costSYNbill BrE7[countable] American English a mark that you put next to an answer to show it is correct or against an item on a list to show that you have dealt with itSYNtick BrEcheckcheck2 verb1[intransitive, transitive] to find out whether something is correct, true, or safeInsurance arrangements will be included in the pension scheme, but you should check that cover is adequate.Employers have the right to check the criminal record of a potential employee.2[transitive] to stop something bad from happening more or getting worseThey welcomed the Bundesbank’s tighter monetary policy to check inflation and provide for a healthier economic recovery next year.3[transitive]TRAVEL to hand your bags to someone at an airport so that they will be put on the plane you are going to takeWe checked our baggage and went for a meal.4[transitive] American English to make a mark next to an answer or something on a list to show that it is correct or has been dealt withSYNtick BrE → check something ↔ in → check something ↔ off → check out→ See Verb tableOrigin check2 1. (1300-1400) Old French eschec “check in chess”, from Arabic shah, from Persian, “king”2. (1400-1500) checker “chessboard, pattern of squares” ((14-21 centuries)), from Old French eschequier, from eschec 