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check

check

2 5.4
A situation where the king is under attack and must be defended immediately
  • noun
  • /tʃɛk/
  • Jargon
translation icon : jaque
  • You're in check.

Examples

  • When your king is in check, you must make a move to protect it immediately.

  • She smiled as she announced, 'I put you in check!' after moving her rook.

  • My king is in check.

  • Your king is still in check.

  • Atlas, you are in check.

  • And when you play, beware of check.

  • The game was intense, and I realized my opponent had me in check at least three times.

Synonyms

discovered check
vscheck
  • Jargon
8.8

A check on the opponent's king that happens when one piece moves and opens an attack by another piece

is the general condition of immediate king attack needing protection next move

Antonyms

1.0

A place or condition that protects you from danger

Idioms

Politely say no now but suggest doing it another time

to rain check
  • Informal
3 4.5

To say you will do something later instead of now

To take a short nap as a joke

To stop and think before you say or do something that causes trouble

A promise that payment is on the way but probably is not

Compounds

35 4.5

A promise to accept an invitation later when you cannot now

A system that stops one person or group having too much power by sharing control

reality check
  • Informal
26 3.9

An experience that makes you see the true situation

25 2.5

Registering your arrival at a hotel, airport, or event by giving your name and documents

20 2.5

A visit to a doctor to check your general health

bad check
  • Specialized
13 3.5

A check from an account without enough money that the bank does not pay

cashier's check
  • Specialized
12 4.6

A check a bank writes and promises to pay the person who receives it

9 2.8

A written order that tells a bank to pay money from a person's account

9 4.6

Freedom to act or spend money without limits

7 3.6

Paper you can use like money abroad that you cash at a bank or shop by showing your ID

5 3.5

A monthly payment from the government or insurance for someone who cannot work because of a disability

5 5.3

A check to make sure everyone is in bed at the set time

check-in
  • Texting
5 3.5

A report sent by an app about your health or mood

gut check
  • Informal
3 8.8

A quick feeling that tells you if something is right

3 3.6

A short surprise test to see if work meets standards

certified check
  • Specialized
3 4.2

A check the bank promises will have enough money to pay someone

3 1.0

A small mark like ✓ that shows something is correct or finished

2 4.4

A small paper record you keep after you tear off a check showing the payment

check girl
  • Archaic
2 6.8

A woman who takes coats or umbrellas at an entrance and gives a ticket to get them back

2 2.7

A written payment that an employer gives an employee for work

1 3.7

A signed piece of paper from a bank with the amount left empty for someone to fill

The latest time a guest must leave their hotel room

1 3.1

Regular monthly money a person gets after they stop working

1 3.5

A book or list where you record checks and deposits to track your bank account

1 2.7

A full medical examination to see how your body is working

1 5.1

A ticket to use later if an event is cancelled because of rain

1 6.8

A simple math check that finds errors in files on drives or during transfer

1 2.7

An extra look to make sure something is correct

A quick check where someone calls names to see who is present

1 2.8

A written note telling a bank to pay a certain amount of money to a person or company

1 4.1

A cheque from a bank that you can cash right away and is safer than a personal cheque

1 3.5

A government check that Medicare sends to an older person to pay medical costs

redundancy check
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A way to find mistakes in data by adding extra information when sending or saving it

parity check
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A way to find errors in digital data by checking whether the number of ones is even or odd

blank check
  • Specialized
6.5

A company formed to raise money from the public to buy other businesses

4.7

Money a bank lets you use when a check makes your account go below zero

check bit
  • Specialized
6.9

An extra binary digit added to data to find errors in transmission or storage

check character
  • Specialized
7.1

An extra digit or letter added to the end of a code to find reading errors

check mark
  • Texting
3.4

A small blue symbol next to a profile that shows the account is real

A set of steps for checking something before you finish or leave

counter check
  • Specialized
6.5

A blank check the bank gives you to get money when your personal checks are not available

8.8

A check on the opponent's king that happens when one piece moves and opens an attack by another piece

dogstooth check
  • Specialized
7.7

A cloth pattern with small jagged checks like a dog's tooth

A small jagged check pattern on fabric often black and white

3.0

A place in a public building where people leave hats and coats to keep them safe

3.7

A small ticket given when you leave a hat or coat to claim it later

health check
  • Specialized
3.1

A routine test that shows if a computer system or service works well

A cloth pattern of small jagged checks in two colors

A cloth pattern of small broken checks usually black and white

odd-even check
  • Specialized
6.7

A way to find errors in data by checking whether the number of ones is odd or even

poke check
  • Specialized
8.2

A quick push with a hockey stick that knocks the puck away from an opponent

treasurer's check
  • Specialized
7.2

A paper payment that a bank issues and pays from its own money

How Threatening

checkmate
12 5.0
check
  • Jargon
2 5.4

Surface Forms

check singular
checks plural

Etymology

The noun check in chess comes from Persian shah ('king') and means the king is under direct attack. So being 'in check' means your king must be protected on the next move.