~ 1
■ verb
1》 examine the accuracy, quality, or condition of.
↘verify or establish to one's satisfaction.
↘ informal, chiefly N. Amer. take notice of.
2》 stop or slow the progress of.
↘ Ice Hockey hamper or neutralize (an opponent) with one's body or stick.
↘(of a hound) pause to make sure of or regain a scent.
↘(of a trained hawk) abandon the intended quarry and fly after other prey.
3》 Chess move a piece or pawn to a square where it attacks (the opposing king).
4》 (in poker) choose not to make a bet when called upon, allowing another player to do so instead.
■ noun
1》 an examination to ~ accuracy, quality, or condition: a health ~.
2》 an act of ~ing progress.
↘a means of control or restraint.
↘a temporary loss of the scent in hunting.
↘ Falconry a false stoop when a hawk abandons its intended quarry and pursues other prey.
3》 a part of a piano which catches the hammer and prevents it retouching the strings.
4》 Chess an act of ~ing the opposing king.
5》 N. Amer. the bill in a restaurant.
6》 (also baggage/luggage ~ ) a token of identification for left luggage.
7》 a counter used as a stake in a gambling game.
8》 (also ~ mark ) North American term for tick 1 (in sense 1).
9》 a crack or flaw in timber.
■ exclamation
1》 informal, chiefly N. Amer. expressing assent or agreement.
2》 Chess used by a player to announce that the opponent's king has been placed in ~.
Phrases
in ~
1》 under control.
2》 Chess (of a king) directly attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn.
Phrasal verbs
~ in arrive and register at a hotel or airport.
~ something in have one's baggage weighed and consigned to the hold of an aircraft.
~ into register one's arrival at (a hotel).
~ something off N. Amer. mark an item on a list to show that it has been dealt with.
~ on verify, ascertain, or monitor the state or condition of.
~ out settle one's hotel bill before leaving.
~ someone/thing out establish the truth or inform oneself about someone or something.
~ up on investigate to establish the truth about or accuracy of.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
ME: the noun and exclamation from OFr. eschec , from med. L. scaccus , via Arab. from Pers. šāh 'king'; the verb from OFr. eschequier 'play chess, put in ~'.
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~ 2
■ noun a pattern of small squares.
■ adjective (also ~ed ) having a pattern of small squares.
Origin
ME: prob. from chequer .
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~ 3
■ noun US spelling of cheque .