check

{{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}}

noun

1 close look to make sure sth is safe/correct

ADJECTIVE

▪ complete, extensive, full (esp. BrE), thorough

▪ careful, close, rigorous, tight (all esp. BrE)

▪ cursory, quick

▪ periodic, regular, routine

▪ annual, daily, etc.

▪ final, last

▪ constant (esp. BrE)

▪ random, spot

▪

In a series of spot checks, police searched buses crossing the border.

▪ independent

▪ visual

▪

I did a quick visual check of the engine.

▪ dental (BrE), fitness (BrE), health, medical

▪ criminal, police, safety, security

▪ background, credit, reference

▪ ID (BrE), identification (AmE), identity (BrE)

▪ baggage, customs (esp. BrE), immigration (esp. BrE), passport (esp. BrE)

▪ stock (BrE)

▪ consistency, quality

▪ spell (usually spellcheck), spelling (BrE)

▪

I do a spellcheck on all my emails.

▪ sound (usually soundcheck)

▪

The band wants to do a soundcheck before the concert.

VERB + CHECK

▪ carry out (BrE), complete, conduct, do, give sth, have, make, run

▪

I'll just have a quick check to see if the letter's arrived.

▪

A thorough check is made before the bags are put on the plane.

▪

We're running a police check on all applicants.

▪ keep, maintain

▪

Police are keeping a close check on the house.

▪ go for (esp. BrE), undergo

▪

I have to go for a dental check.

PREPOSITION

▪ check on

▪

a routine check on the factory

2 control; restraint

ADJECTIVE

▪ natural

▪

Leaving some fields fallow provided a natural check on insect populations.

VERB + CHECK

▪ act as, provide

▪ hold sth in, keep sth in

▪

You need to keep your temper in check!

PREPOSITION

▪ check on

▪

The law acts as a check on people's actions.

3 (AmE) method of payment ⇨ See ↑cheque

4 (AmE) bill for food ⇨ See also ↑bill

ADJECTIVE

▪ dinner

VERB + CHECK

▪ have

▪

Can I have the check please?

▪ pay, pick up, split

▪

Uncle Louie picked up the dinner check.

PREPOSITION

▪ check for

▪

The waiter handed me the check for my meal.

{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}

verb

1 examine/make sure

ADVERB

▪ always, daily, periodically, regularly

▪

Always check that the electricity is switched off before you start.

▪

Check the oil level regularly.

▪ carefully, thoroughly

▪ easily, simply

VERB + CHECK

▪ had better, must, need to, should

▪

We had better check that all the doors are locked.

PREPOSITION

▪ against

▪

I'll need to check these figures against last year's.

▪ for

▪

Check the roof for loose slates.

▪ with

▪

I checked with her to see if she needed any help.

PHRASES

▪ be worth checking

▪

It's worth checking that there is no rust on the car.

▪ check to see if, check to see whether

▪

He was just checking to see if I was in my room.

2 (AmE) put a mark (✓) next to sth ⇨ See also ↑tick

ADVERB

▪ simply

▪

To take advantage of this extra bonus offer, simply check the box on your order form.

▪ mentally

▪

She began mentally checking off the things on her to-do list.

▪ off

▪

The cartons were all checked off as they were unloaded.

Check is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑electrician, ↑inspector

Check is used with these nouns as the object: ↑account, ↑accuracy, ↑appearance, ↑archive, ↑authenticity, ↑availability, ↑bag, ↑baggage, ↑balance, ↑barometer, ↑bearing, ↑blood pressure, ↑book, ↑box, ↑calendar, ↑change, ↑clip, ↑clock, ↑compass, ↑comprehension, ↑credentials, ↑date, ↑detail, ↑diaper, ↑dictionary, ↑dimension, ↑directory, ↑effectiveness, ↑email, ↑fact, ↑file, ↑forecast, ↑gauge, ↑identification, ↑impulse, ↑information, ↑input, ↑instrument, ↑label, ↑level, ↑link, ↑lock, ↑log, ↑luggage, ↑mail, ↑make-up, ↑manual, ↑map, ↑message, ↑meter, ↑microphone, ↑mirror, ↑oil, ↑passport, ↑pocket, ↑post, ↑profile, ↑progress, ↑pulse, ↑record, ↑reference, ↑schedule, ↑signature, ↑site, ↑spelling, ↑status, ↑takings, ↑time, ↑tyre, ↑validity, ↑visa, ↑watch, ↑weather, ↑website, ↑wiring, ↑work