Definitions from Wordnet 2.0

• the act of inspecting or verifying; "they made a check of their equipment"; "the pilot ran through the check-out procedure"
• (chess) a direct attack on an opponent''s king
• obstructing an opponent in ice hockey
• the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper"
• a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a checkerboard); "she wore a skirt with checks"
• a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken off of something
• something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
• an appraisal of the state of affairs; "they made an assay of the contents"; "a check on its dependability under stress"
• additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct; "fossils provided further confirmation of the evolutionary theory"
• the bill in a restaurant; "he asked the waiter for the check"
• 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"
• a written order directing a bank to pay money; "he paid all his bills by check"
• 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"
• become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The glass cracked when it was heated"
• make cracks or chinks in; "The heat checked the paint"
• arrest the motion (of something) abruptly; "He checked the flow of water by shutting off the main valve"
• slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will retard the child''s language development"
• examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition; "check the brakes"; "Check out the engine"
• put a check mark on or next to; "Please check each name on the list"; "tick off the items"
• 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"
• verify by consulting a source or authority; "check the spelling of this word"; "check your facts"
• 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"
• write out a check on a bank account
• place into check; "He checked my kings"
• 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"
• decline to initiate betting
• mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
• stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution; "She checked for an instant and missed a step"
• stop in a chase especially when scent is lost; "The dog checked"
• abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior prey, of falcons
• hand over something to somebody as for temporary safekeeping; "Check your coat at the door"
• consign for shipment on a vehicle; "check your luggage before boarding"
• 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"
• make an examination or investigation; "check into the rumor"; "check the time of the class"
• train by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control; "Parents must discipline their children"; "Is this dog trained?"
• block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey
• 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"
• be verified or confirmed; pass inspection; "These stories don''t check!"

Definitions from Wiktionary

• a written order directing a bank to pay money; "he paid all his bills by check" ,
• an appraisal of the state of affairs; "they made an assay of the contents"; "a check on its dependability under stress" ,
• the bill in a restaurant; "he asked the waiter for the check" ,
• 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" ,
• additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct; "fossils provided further confirmation of the evolutionary theory" ,
• the act of inspecting or verifying; "they made a check of their equipment"; "the pilot ran through the check-out procedure" ,
• 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" ,
• something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress ,
• a mark left after a small piece has been chopped or broken off of something , 10. a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a checkerboard); "she wore a skirt with checks" , 1
• the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" , 1
• obstructing an opponent in ice hockey , 1
• (chess) a direct attack on an opponent's king

• Check: Check may refer to. A small crack in the glass, also known as a check, in the glass container industry Cheque ("Check" in U.S. English), an ...
• Check (chess): In games such as chess , shogi , and xiangqi , a check is the threat to capture the king (or general in xiangqi) on the next turn to move ...
• Check valve: A check valve, clack valve, non-return valve or one-way valve is a mechanical device , a valve , which normally allows fluid (liquid or ...
• Checking (ice hockey): Shoulder-checking : The most common type of body-check, in which a player puts his shoulder into his opponent to muscle the opponent out ...
• Checkmate: boardgame s of the chaturanga family) in which one player's king is threatened with capture (in check ) and there is no way to meet that threat. ...