n. [ OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess, through Ar., fr. Pers. shāh king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker. ] 1. (Chess) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff. [ 1913 Webster ]

Useful check upon the administration of government. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man whom no check could abash. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Small chick or crack. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. --
Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. --
Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped. --
Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked. --
Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it. Knight. --
Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler, or other conduit, to prevent the return of the feed water or other fluid. --
To take check, to take offense. [ Obs. ] Dryden.

Syn. -- Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make a stop; to pause; -- with at. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To clash or interfere. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To act as a curb or restraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ his presence ] checks too strong upon me. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

And like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Checkered; designed in checks. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Checked p. pr. & vb. n. checking. ] 1. (Chess) To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb. Hence, (Ice Hockey) To obstruct the motion of an opposing player by contacting him with one's body. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. 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. Hence, To compare with an original or with some standard, to insure correctness; as, to check an account; to check with a supervisor about procedures. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove. [ 1913 Webster ]

The good king, his master, will check him for it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Naut.) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To leave (something) in the temporary custody of another; as, to check baggage; to check one's firearms at the door; to check one's coat at the cloakroom. [ PJC ]

8. To accept (something) for temporary custody from another; as, to check a customer's baggage; to check a customer's coat. [ PJC ]

9. To make a checkered pattern upon. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of checking; as, the checkage of a name or of an item in a list. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The items, or the amount, to which attention is called by a check or checks. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. Held back from some action especially by force.
Syn. -- curbed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. having a pattern of alternating dark and light squares in rows and columns.
Syn. -- checkered. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Checkered p. pr. & vb. n. Checkering. ] [ From OF. eschequier a chessboard, F. échiquier. See Check, n., and cf. 3d Checker. ] 1. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing stripes of different colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, colors, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosperity and adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. eschequier. See Checker, v. t. ] 1. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A pattern in checks; a single check. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Checkerwork. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is also written chequer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Check, v. t. ] One who checks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Checkerberries (Bot.) A spicy plant and its bright red berry; the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge berry (Mitchella repens). [ 1913 Webster ]