n. (US check)
1. a written order to a bank to pay the stated sum from the drawer's account.
2 the printed form on which such an order is written.
Phrases and idioms:
cheque-book a book of forms for writing cheques. cheque-book journalism the payment of large sums for exclusive rights to material for (esp. personal) newspaper stories. cheque card a card issued by a bank to guarantee the honouring of cheques up to a stated amount.
Etymology: special use of CHECK(1) to mean 'device for checking the amount of an item'