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to check temperature

to check temperature

2.3
To measure a person's body temperature to see if they have a fever
  • phrasal verb
  • /tʃɛk ˈtɛmpərətʃər/
: tomar la temperatura
  • Rajah didn't say another word, not even to check Chotu's temperature.

Examples

  • The nurse will check your temperature using a digital thermometer when you arrive.

  • She'd want to check my temperature herself because she knows I never do it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Keep him in the water for 10 minutes, then check his temperature again.

  • Aren't you supposed to check the temperature?

  • Gus, go ahead, check the temperature.

  • Before giving him medicine, you should check the temperature to see if he has a fever.

  • It is important to check the temperature regularly during an illness to monitor any changes.

Synonyms

to check the temperature
vsto check temperature
2 1.4

Find out how hot or cold something is

focuses on people to detect fever or signs of illness

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

Surface Forms

check temperature infinitive
checked temperature past participle
checking temperature present participle
checks temperature third person singular

Morphology

check + temperature

The meaning 'to measure someone's body temperature' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'check' (inspect/verify) with 'temperature' (level of heat). This verb + noun collocation is literal and common in health contexts (and cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Check temperature comes from the simple action of putting a thermometer on someone's forehead or under their tongue to check their temperature and see if they are hotter than normal. So, check temperature means 'to measure if someone has a fever'.