Added 9 October 2026
check
/t͡ʃɛk/ noun
In Latin: ratio, calculus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about check at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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An inspection or examination.
I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check.
-
A control; a limit or stop.
checks and balances
- A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
verb
-
To inspect; to examine.
Check the oil in your car once a month.
- To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
-
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).
Check the items on the list that interest you.
interjection
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An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied.
Keys? Check. Batteries? Check. We are all ready to go!
- An expression that indicates that the speaker wishes to pay the bill (e.g. in a restaurant).
noun
Origin
From Middle English chek, chekke, borrowed from Old French eschec, eschek, eschac, from Medieval Latin scaccus, borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king or check at chess, shah”), borrowed from Classical Persian شَاه (šāh, “king”), from Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ /šāh/), from Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ /xšāyaθiya/, “king”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati (“he rules, he has power over”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to gain power over, gain control over”). Compare Saterland Frisian Schak, Schach, Dutch schaak, German Schach, Danish skak, Swedish schack, Icelandic skák, French échec, Italian scacco.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)