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Glite Dictionary
to spot-check

to spot-check

2 4.2
To check a few random items to make sure they meet standards
  • phrasal verb
  • /spɑtˌtʃɛk/
translation icon : verificación aleatoria
  • During the audit, the team will spot-check various financial records for accuracy.
  • just a spot-check

Examples

  • Raters spot-checked three sets of tests from each group for interrater agreement.

    Academic text (1992)

  • "Yes, but while visual inspections and spot checking will reduce our chances of shipping defective products," Klaus said, "it won't eliminate the risk."

    Academic text (1995)

  • So a lot of people will spot check temperature.

  • Like if you wanted to do a quick spot check on a report of tremendously low ice?

    Blog text (33)

  • To that effect, he trained his bakers himself and spot-checked quality regularly.

    Blog text (1)

  • A smaller group, the Audit Team, is spot-checking ballots in about 10 counties.

    Blog text (3)

  • My best advice is to spot-check the SERPs for your main keywords.

    Blog text (2)

  • I've got this IR thermometer I'm going to use to spot check a few things.

  • The quality control team will spot-check some products before they are shipped to customers.

  • To ensure compliance, the manager decided to spot-check several employee reports this afternoon.

Synonyms

to check up on
vsto spot-check
93 3.2

To look at something to make sure it is correct and works well

selects random items to inspect for quality or compliance
to check over
vsto spot-check
10 2.8

To look at something carefully to find mistakes or problems

inspects a few random samples rather than examining everything

Antonyms

to check through
4 3.2

To look at something carefully and check all its parts

How Thorough

audit
69 4.4
to inspect
202 2.5
to check
∞ 1.0
to spot-check
2 4.2
to glance at
150 2.0

Surface Forms

spot-check infinitive
spot-checked past
spot-checked past participle
spot-checking present participle
spot-checks third person singular

Morphology

spot-check = spot + check (transparent) = spot + check

The verb is a direct compound of 'spot' (a particular item or instance) + 'check' (to examine), so the meaning 'to check selected/random items' follows straightforwardly from the components.

Etymology

The word spot-check comes from joining spot (a 'small place' or 'to see/notice') and check ('to look at or test'). Picture someone checking a few small 'spots' or samples here and there, which is why to spot-check is to test random items to make sure everything is okay.