Sign vs Check - What's the difference?
sign | check |
(sometimes, also used uncountably) A visible indication.
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5
, passage=Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.}}
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
* Macaulay
A traffic sign.
A meaningful gesture.
Any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols.
(astrology) An astrological sign.
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity.
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
*, II.12:
* 2007 , Marcel Danesi, The Quest for Meaning :
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
An omen.
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
To make a mark
#
#:The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
# To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
#*1726 , Elijah Fenton, The Odyssey of Homer :
#*:Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
# To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
#*c. 1597 , (William Shakespeare), The Merchant of Venice :
#*:Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].
# More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
#
#:Just sign your name at the bottom there.
#:I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
# To write one's signature.
# To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
#*2011 , The Guardian , (headline), 18 Oct 2011:
#*:Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
# To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
To make the sign of the cross
# To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
#* Book of Common Prayer
#*:We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
#*1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 34:
#*:At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.
# (reflexive) To cross oneself.
#*1855 , (Robert Browning), Men and Women :
#*:Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
To indicate
# To communicate using a gesture or signal.
#* Sir Walter Scott:
# To communicate using gestures to (someone).
#:He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
# To use sign language.
# To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
(chess) A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
An inspection or examination.
A control; a limit or stop.
* Addison
(US) A mark (especially a checkmark: ) used as an indicator, equivalent to a tick (UK) .
(US) An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity; a cheque (UK, Canada) .
(US) A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play.
A token used instead of cash in gaming machines.
* 1963 , American law reports annotated: second series (volume 89)
A lengthwise separation through the growth rings in wood.
A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified.
(falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
A small chink or crack.
To inspect; to examine.
To mark with a checkmark.
To control, limit, or halt.
* Burke
* 1922 , (James Joyce), Chapter 13
To verify or compare with a source of information.
To leave in safekeeping.
To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
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.
To physically remove a person from play.
(poker) To remain in a hand without betting. Only legal if no one has yet bet.
(chess) To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, especially the king, in check; to put in check.
To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
* Shakespeare
(nautical) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack.
To make a stop; to pause; with at .
* John Locke
(obsolete) To clash or interfere.
To act as a curb or restraint.
* Dryden
(falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
* Shakespeare
(textiles, usually, pluralized) A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
As nouns the difference between sign and check
is that sign is (sometimes|also used uncountably) a visible indication while check is (chess) a situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece or check can be (textiles|usually|pluralized) a pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.As verbs the difference between sign and check
is that sign is to make a mark while check is to inspect; to examine.sign
English
(wikipedia sign)Etymology 1
From (etyl) signe, from (etyl) ; root uncertain.Noun
(en noun)- The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs , which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
- And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes ?
- In American Sign Language (ASL), for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand (in the role of agent) moving across the body (an action) to grasp the forefinger of the other hand (the patient).
- (Milton)
Derived terms
* air sign * astrological sign * earth sign * fire sign * high sign * Indian sign * minus sign * neon sign * plus sign * road sign * sign language * sign of life * star sign * street sign * traffic sign * vital sign * water signEtymology 2
From (etyl) (seigner), (seiner) et al., (etyl) signer et al., and their source, (etyl) ; see Etymology 1, above. Compare (sain).Verb
(en verb)- I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
- Please sign on the dotted line.
- It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
- I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
Derived terms
* sign in * signing bonus * sign off * sign on * sign over * sign out * sign up * sign one's life awayExternal links
* *Anagrams
*check
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) eschec, from . All English senses developed from the chess sense.Noun
(en noun)- I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check .
- checks and balances
- The castle moat should hold the enemy in check .
- a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity
- Place a check by the things you have done.
- I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a check for the amount.
- I summoned the waiter, paid the check , and hurried to leave.
- The hockey player gave a good hard check to obtain the puck.
- a check''' given for baggage; a return '''check on a railroad
Synonyms
* (note of monetary transfer) cheque * (indicator mark) tick (UK), checkmark, * (bill of sale) cheque (Canada)Descendants
* German: * Spanish:Verb
(en verb)- Check the oil in your car once a month.
- Check whether this page has a watermark.
- Check the correct answer to each question.
- Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.
- so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression
- She was about to retort but something checked the words on her tongue.
- Check your data against known values.
- Check your hat and coat at the door.
- Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.
- He checked the ball and then proceeded to perform a perfect layup.
- That basket doesn't count—you forgot to check !
- The hockey player checked the defenceman to obtain the puck .
- Tom didn't think he could win, so he checked .
- The good king, his master, will check him for it.
- The sun checks timber.
- The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after.
- (Francis Bacon)
- It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
- And like the haggard, check at every feather / That comes before his eye.
Derived terms
* check in * check into * check out * check over * check through * check upDerived terms
* bad check * bed check * body check * bounce a check * cashier's check * check against * checkbook * check casher * checker * checkers * checkered * checking * checking account * check in * check into * checking account * check is in the mail * check a person out * check it out * checklist * checkmate * checkout * check out * check over * checkup * check up on * check valve * checks and balances * counter check * cross-check * discovered check * double check * double-check * hot check * kite a check * put in check * rain check * reality check * recheck * revealed check * shoulder check * stick check * teller's check * traveler's check * unch * uncheckedEtymology 2
By shortening from checker, from (etyl) scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.Noun
(en noun)- The tablecloth had red and white check s.