Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - check

~1 v 1 »FIND OUT« to do something in order to find out whether something that you think is correct, true, or safe really is correct, true, or safe  ("Are all the windows shut?" "I'll just go and check." | check sth)  (I'll check my calendar and get back to you.) + tha  (They're entitled to check that the will is valid, of course.) + whether/how/who etc  (Let me just check whether the potatoes are cooked.) + for  (Have these cables been checked for faults?) check sth against/with sth (=compare something with something else to see whether they are the same)  (Upon delivery, the items are checked against the original order. | double check (=look at something twice to be sure about something))  (Double check all the spellings, especially of people's names.) 2 »ASK SB« to ask someone for permission to do something or ask whether something is correct  (I'm not authorized to give you a refund - I'll have to check first.) + tha  (We'd better check that these are the right pills.) + whether/how/who etc  (Let's stop and check whether this is the right road.) check with sb  (It's wise to check with your doctor before going on a diet.) 3 »NOT DO STH« to suddenly stop yourself from saying or doing something because you realize it would be better not to  (Susan quickly turned aside, checking an urge to laugh out loud. | check yourself)  ("You shouldn't have..." he checked himself, trying to stay calm.) 4 »STOP STH« to stop something bad from getting worse or continuing to happen etc  (Speed bumps will be installed to check the neighborhood traffic.) 5 »MAKE A MARK« AmE to make a mark (V) next to an answer, something on a list etc to show that it is correct or that you have dealt with it; tick2 (2) BrE 6 »BAGS/CASES ETC« AmE to leave your bags etc 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 5 kilos must be checked.) check in phr v 1 T check someone in) to go to the desk at a hotel or airport and report that you have arrived  (You need to check in one hour before the flight. | check in at)  (Let's check in at the hotel before we get something to eat.)  (- see also check-in) 2 T check something in) AmE to take a book you have borrowed back to a library check sth off phr v to write a mark next to something on a list when you have dealt with it or made sure that it is correct  (Check off the names as people arrive.) check out phr v 1 »MAKE SURE« a) T check something out) to make sure that something is actually true, correct, or acceptable; investigate  (Why don't I check out the bar and see if it's OK? | check it out (with))  (Check it out if you don't believe me.) b) if information checks out, it is proven to be true, correct, or acceptable  (If your credit record checks out, they give you a $1000 limit right away.) 2 »LOOK AT SB/STH« T check someone/something out) to look at someone or something because they are interesting or attractive  (Hey, check this out!) 3 »GET INFORMATION« T check someone out) informal to get information about someone, especially to find out if they are suitable for something  (It's routine, they check members out before letting them join.) 4 »TEST STH« T check something out) to test something to find out if it works, how it works, whether it is suitable for what you want etc  (In here, they stripped down the aircraft and checked them out for airworthiness.) 5 »HOTEL« to leave a hotel after paying the bill  (We checked out at noon.) 6 »BOOKS« T check something out) AmE to borrow books from a library  (The library allows you to check out six books at a time.)  (- see also checkout) check sth over phr v 1 to look closely at something to make sure it is correct or acceptable  (Will you check over my essay before I hand it in?) 2 to examine someone to make sure they are healthy  (They've checked her over and given her all these tests and she's fine.) check up on sb phr v to try and make sure that someone is doing what they said they would do or what you want them to do, especially secretly  (Are you trying to check up on me, or what?) check on sb phr v to make sure that someone is safe, has everything they need, etc  (Honey, can you go upstairs and check on the kids?) ~2 n 1 »ON SAFETY/CORRECTNESS/TRUTH ETC« an act of finding out if something is safe, correct, true, or in the condition it should be  (the airport's routine security checks) + on  (the need for tighter checks on arms sales) have a check  (Have a check in your bag first and see if it's there. | eye/blood pressure/dental etc check (=done to make sure you are healthy) | carry out a check (on))  (We will carry out a check on options available to you. | spot check (=a quick check of one thing among a group of things, that you do without warning))  (Customs officers will do spot checks for drugs and other illegal goods.) 2 keep a check (on sb/sth) to watch or listen to something or someone regularly or continuously, in order to control something or gather information  (Keep a check on your speed. | Their phones had even been tapped to keep a check on their activities.) 3 run/do a check to organize an examination of something or someone in order to find out information  (run a check on sb)  (Troy's staying late to run some background checks on suspects. | do a check for sth)  (I'd better do a check for gas leaks.) 4 »A CONTROL ON STH« something that controls something else and stops it from getting worse, continuing to happen etc  (Higher interest rates will act as a check on public spending. | keep/hold sb/sth in check (=keep someone or something under control))  (It was obvious she was barely holding her temper in check.) 5 »PATTERN« a pattern of squares, especially on cloth  (I don't like checks or stripes, just plain colors. | a check shirt/jacket etc (=made with this cloth))  (- see also checked) 6 »FROM YOUR BANK« AmE one of a set of printed pieces of paper that you can sign and use instead of money to pay for things; cheque BrE + for  (a check for $30) by check  (Is it okay to pay by check?) 7 »IN A RESTAURANT« AmE, ScotE a list that you are given in a restaurant showing what you have eaten and how much you must pay; bill1 (1b) 8 »FOR YOUR COAT/BAG« AmE a) coat check/hat check a place in a restaurant, theatre etc where you can leave your coat, bag etc to be guarded until you go home b) a ticket that you are given so you can claim your things from this place 9 »MARK« AmE 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; tick1 (1) BrE 10 »CHESS« the position of the king (=most important piece) in chess when it can be directly attacked by the opponent's pieces