Cheque
A cheque, or check (American English; see spelling differences), is a document that orders a bank to pay a specific amount of money from a person’s account to the person in whose name the cheque has been issued. The person writing the cheque, known as the drawer, has a transaction banking account (often called a current, cheque, chequing or checking account) where their money is held. The drawer writes the various details including the monetary amount, date, and a payee on the cheque, and signs it, ordering their bank, known as the drawee, to pay that person or company the amount of money stated.
Cheques are a type of bill of exchange and were developed as a way to make payments without the need to carry large amounts of money. Paper money evolved from promissory notes, another form of negotiable instrument similar to cheques in that they were originally a written order to pay the given amount to whoever had it in their possession (the “bearer”).
A cheque is a negotiable instrument instructing a financial institution to pay a specific amount of a specific currency from a specified transactional account held in the drawer’s name with that institution. Both the drawer and payee may be natural persons or legal entities. Cheques are order instruments, and are not in general payable simply to the bearer as bearer instruments are, but must be paid to the payee. In some countries, such as the US, the payee may endorse the cheque, allowing them to specify a third party to whom it should be paid.
Although forms of cheques have been in use since ancient times and at least since the 9th century, it was during the 20th century that cheques became a highly popular non-cash method for making payments and the usage of cheques peaked. By the second half of the 20th century, as cheque processing became automated, billions of cheques were issued annually; these volumes peaked in or around the early 1990s. Since then cheque usage has fallen, being partly replaced by electronic payment systems. In an increasing number of countries cheques have either become a marginal payment system or have been completely phased out.
Check (noun)
A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
Check (noun)
An inspection or examination.
“I don’t know if she will be there, but it’s worth a check.”
Check (noun)
A control; a limit or stop.
“checks and balances”
“The castle moat should hold the enemy in check.”
Check (noun)
A mark (especially a checkmark: ✓) used as an indicator, equivalent to a tick (UK).
“Place a check by the things you have done.”
Check (noun)
An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity; a cheque (UK, Canada).
“I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a check for the amount.”
Check (noun)
A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
“I summoned the waiter, paid the check, and hurried to leave.”
Check (noun)
A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play.
“The hockey player gave a good hard check to obtain the puck.”
Check (noun)
A token used instead of cash in gaming machines.
Check (noun)
A lengthwise separation through the growth rings in wood.
Check (noun)
A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified.
“a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad”
Check (noun)
The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
Check (noun)
A small chink or crack.
Check (noun)
A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
“The tablecloth had red and white checks.”
Check (verb)
To inspect; to examine.
“Check the oil in your car once a month.”
“Check whether this page has a watermark.”
Check (verb)
To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
Check (verb)
To mark items on a chosen for keeping or removal or that have been dealt with (for example, completed or verified as correct or satisfactory); to check off, tick (UK), tick off (UK), cross off, strike off.
“Check the items on the list that interest you.”
“Check off the items that you’ve checked (inspected).”
“Check the correct answer to each question.”
Check (verb)
To control, limit, or halt.
“Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.”
Check (verb)
To verify or compare with a source of information.
“Check your data against known values.”
Check (verb)
To leave in safekeeping.
“Check your hat and coat at the door.”
Check (verb)
To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
“Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.”
Check (verb)
To pass or bounce the ball to an opponent from behind the three-point line and have the opponent pass or bounce it back to start play.
“He checked the ball and then proceeded to perform a perfect layup.”
“That basket doesn’t count—you forgot to check!”
Check (verb)
To hit another player with one’s body.
“The hockey player checked the defenceman to obtain the puck.”
Check (verb)
To remain in a hand without betting. Only legal if no one has yet bet.
“Tom didn’t think he could win, so he checked.”
Check (verb)
To make a move which puts an adversary’s piece, especially the king, in check; to put in check.
Check (verb)
To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
Check (verb)
To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
Check (verb)
To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
Check (verb)
To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack.
“The sun checks timber.”
Check (verb)
To make a stop; to pause; with at.
Check (verb)
To clash or interfere.
Check (verb)
To act as a curb or restraint.
Check (verb)
To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
Cheque (noun)
A draft directing a bank to pay money to a named person or entity.
“I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a cheque for the amount.”
Check (verb)
examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something
“customs officers have the right to check all luggage”
“a simple blood test to check for anaemia”
Check (verb)
verify or establish to one’s satisfaction
“she glanced over her shoulder to check that the door was shut”
“phone us to check the availability of your chosen holiday”
Check (verb)
verify the accuracy of something by comparing it with (something else)
“keep your receipt to check against your statement”
Check (verb)
agree or correspond when compared.
Check (verb)
look at; take notice of
“check the remix”
Check (verb)
stop or slow the progress of (something, typically something undesirable)
“efforts were made to check the disease”
Check (verb)
curb or control (one’s feelings or reaction)
“he learned to check his excitement”
Check (verb)
hamper or neutralize (an opponent) with one’s body or stick.
Check (verb)
provide a means of preventing
“processes to check against deterioration in the quality of the data held”
Check (verb)
(of a passenger) consign (baggage) to the care of the transport provider with whom they are travelling
“I checked my bag and got my boarding pass”
Check (verb)
deposit (a coat, bag, or other item) for temporary safekeeping in the cloakroom of a restaurant, theatre, etc.
“the drinks weren’t expensive and there’s no cover charge but you do have to check your coat for $3.00”
Check (verb)
mark or click on (a box) in order to select a particular option on a form, questionnaire, etc.
“users who want privacy should check the box that prevents your files from being shared”
Check (verb)
move a piece or pawn to a square where it attacks (the opposing king)
“he moves his knight to check my king again”
Check (verb)
(in poker) choose not to make a bet when called upon, allowing another player to do so instead.
Check (verb)
(of a hound) pause to make sure of or regain a scent.
Check (verb)
(of a trained hawk) abandon the intended quarry and fly after other prey.
Check (noun)
an examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition
“a campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances”
“a health check”
Check (noun)
a stopping or slowing of progress
“there was no check to the expansion of the market”
Check (noun)
a means of control or restraint
“a permanent check upon the growth or abuse of central authority”
Check (noun)
an act of hampering or neutralizing an opponent with one’s body or stick.
Check (noun)
a temporary loss of the scent in hunting.
Check (noun)
the movement made by a hawk when it abandons its intended quarry and pursues other prey.
Check (noun)
a move by which a piece or pawn directly attacks the opponent’s king and by which the king may be checkmated.
Check (noun)
US spelling of cheque
Check (noun)
the bill in a restaurant
“let’s get the check”
Check (noun)
a token of identification for left luggage.
Check (noun)
a counter used as a stake in a gambling game.
Check (noun)
another term for tick (sense 1 of the noun)
Check (noun)
a part of a piano which catches the hammer and prevents it retouching the strings.
Check (noun)
a crack or flaw in timber.
Check (noun)
a pattern of small squares
“a fine black-and-white check”
Check (noun)
a garment or fabric with a pattern of small squares
“on Wednesdays he wore the small check”
Check (interjection)
expressing assent or agreement.
Check (interjection)
used by a chess player to announce that the opponent’s king has been placed in check.
Check (adjective)
having a checked pattern
“a blue check T-shirt”
Cheque (noun)
an order to a bank to pay a stated sum from the drawer’s account, written on a specially printed form
“they presented him with a cheque for £4,000”
“fees are payable by cheque or postal order”