Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Check \Check\, 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.

   2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to
      hinder; to repress; to curb.

            So many clogs to check and retard the headlong
            course of violence and oppression.    --Burke.

   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; as, to check an
      account; to check baggage.

   4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove.

            The good king, his master, will check him for it.
                                                  --Shak.

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

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

   Syn: To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder;
        impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove;
        rebuff.

Check \Check\, n. [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. ['e]chec, a stop,
   hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. ['e]checs
   chess, through AR., fr. Pers. sh[=a]h 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.

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

            Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress
            of Christianity.                      --Addison.

            No check, no stay, this streamlet fears.
                                                  --Wordsworth.

   3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle,
      guard, restraint, or rebuff.

            Useful check upon the administration of government.
                                                  --Washington.

            A man whom no check could abash.      --Macaulay.

   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.

   5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as
      therein stated. See {Bank check}, below.

   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.

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

   8. Small chick or crack.

   {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
      to prevent the return of the feed water.

   {To take check}, to take offense. [Obs.] --Dryden.

   Syn: Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction;
        reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff;
        tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.

Check \Check\, v. i.
   To make a stop; to pause; -- with at.

         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.

   2. To clash or interfere. [R.] --Bacon.

   3. To act as a curb or restraint.

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

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

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

            And like the haggard, check at every feather That
            comes before his eye.                 --Shak.

Check \Check\, a.
   Checkered; designed in checks.

Source : WordNet®

check
     n 1: a written order directing a bank to pay money; "he paid all
          his bills by check" [syn: {bank check}, {cheque}]
     2: an appraisal of the state of affairs; "they made an assay of
        the contents"; "a check on its dependability under stress"
        [syn: {assay}]
     3: the bill in a restaurant; "he asked the waiter for the
        check" [syn: {chit}, {tab}]
     4: the state of inactivity following an interruption; "the
        negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check";
        "during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay
        enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop
        in his seat" [syn: {arrest}, {halt}, {hitch}, {stay}, {stop},
         {stoppage}]
     5: additional proof that something that was believed (some fact
        or hypothesis or theory) is correct; "fossils provided
        further confirmation of the evolutionary theory" [syn: {confirmation},
         {verification}, {substantiation}]
     6: the act of inspecting or verifying; "they made a check of
        their equipment"; "the pilot ran through the check-out
        procedure" [syn: {checkout}, {check-out procedure}]
     7: a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed
        etc.; "as he called the role he put a check mark by each
        student's name" [syn: {check mark}, {tick}]
     8: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action
        or progress [syn: {hindrance}, {deterrent}, {impediment},
        {balk}, {baulk}, {handicap}]
     9: a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken
        off of something [syn: {chip}]
     10: a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a
         checkerboard); "she wore a skirt with checks"
     11: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess;
         "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn:
         {bridle}, {curb}]
     12: obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
     13: (chess) a direct attack on an opponent's king

check
     v 1: examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition;
          "check the brakes"; "Check out the engine" [syn: {check
          up on}, {look into}, {check out}, {suss out}, {check
          over}, {go over}, {check into}]
     2: make an examination or investigation; "check into the
        rumor"; "check the time of the class"
     3: be careful or certain to do something; make certain of
        something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See
        that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the
        product" [syn: {see}, {insure}, {see to it}, {ensure}, {control},
         {ascertain}, {assure}]
     4: lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or
        keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold
        your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger"
        [syn: {control}, {hold in}, {hold}, {contain}, {curb}, {moderate}]
     5: stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution; "She
        checked for an instant and missed a step"
     6: put a check mark on or next to; "Please check each name on
        the list"; "tick off the items" [syn: {check off}, {mark},
         {mark off}, {tick off}, {tick}]
     7: slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will
        retard the child's language development" [syn: {retard}, {delay}]
     8: be verified or confirmed; pass inspection; "These stories
        don't check!" [syn: {check out}]
     9: be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their
        characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many
        details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on
        the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints don't match those
        on the gun" [syn: {match}, {fit}, {correspond}, {jibe}, {gibe},
         {tally}, {agree}] [ant: {disagree}]
     10: block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice
         hockey
     11: train by instruction and practice; especially to teach
         self-control; "Parents must discipline their children";
         "Is this dog trained?" [syn: {discipline}, {train}, {condition}]
     12: consign for shipment on a vehicle; "check your luggage
         before boarding"
     13: hand over something to somebody as for temporary
         safekeeping; "Check your coat at the door"
     14: abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior
         prey, of falcons
     15: stop in a chase especially when scent is lost; "The dog
         checked"
     16: mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
         [syn: {checker}, {chequer}]
     17: decline to initiate betting
     18: hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion
         or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the
         growth of communism in Sout East Asia"; "Contain the
         rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" [syn:
         {turn back}, {arrest}, {stop}, {contain}, {hold back}]
     19: place into check; "He checked my kings"
     20: write out a check on a bank account
     21: find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by
         making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether
         she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if
         he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on
         time" [syn: {determine}, {find out}, {see}, {ascertain},
         {watch}, {learn}]
     22: verify by consulting a source or authority; "check the
         spelling of this word"; "check your facts"
     23: arrest the motion (of something) abruptly; "He checked the
         flow of water by shutting off the main valve"
     24: make cracks or chinks in; "The heat checked the paint" [syn:
          {chink}]
     25: become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The
         glass cracked when it was heated" [syn: {crack}, {break}]