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Inquiry vs Check - What's the difference?

inquiry | check |

As nouns the difference between inquiry and check

is that inquiry is the act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning 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 a verb check is

to inspect; to examine.

inquiry

English

(wikipedia inquiry)

Alternative forms

* enquiry

Noun

(inquiries)
  • The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
  • Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research; investigation; as, physical inquiries.

    • Usage notes

    According to Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (1926), ''inquiry'' should be used in relation to a formal inquest, and ''enquiry'' to the act of questioning. Many (though not all) British writers maintain this distinction; the Oxford English Dictionary, in its entry not updated since 1900, lists ''inquiry'' and ''enquiry'' as equal alternatives, in that order. Some British dictionaries, such as ''Chambers 21st Century Dictionary'' [http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?title=21st&query=inquiry], present the two spellings as interchangeable variants in the general sense, but prefer ''inquiry'' for the "formal inquest" sense. In Australian English, ''inquiry'' represents a formal inquest (such as a government investigation) while ''enquiry'' is used in the act of questioning (eg: the customer enquired about the status of his loan application). Both spellings are current in Canadian English, where ''enquiry'' is often associated with scholarly or intellectual research. (See Pam Peters, ''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage , p. 282.) American English usually uses inquiry .

    References

    *

    check

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) eschec, from . All English senses developed from the chess sense.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chess) A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
  • An inspection or examination.
    • I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check .
  • A control; a limit or stop.
    • checks and balances
    The castle moat should hold the enemy in check .
  • * Addison
    • a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity
  • (US) A mark (especially a checkmark: ) used as an indicator, equivalent to a tick (UK) .
    • Place a check by the things you have done.
  • (US) 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.
  • (US) A bill, particularly in a restaurant.
    • I summoned the waiter, paid the check , and hurried to leave.
  • 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.
  • 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.
    • a check''' given for baggage; a return '''check on a railroad
  • (falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
  • A small chink or crack.
    • Synonyms
    * (note of monetary transfer) cheque * (indicator mark) tick (UK), checkmark, * (bill of sale) cheque (Canada)
    Descendants
    * German: * Spanish:

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To inspect; to examine.
    • Check the oil in your car once a month.
    Check whether this page has a watermark.
  • To mark with a checkmark.
    • Check the correct answer to each question.
  • To control, limit, or halt.
    • Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.
  • * Burke
    • so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression
  • * 1922 , (James Joyce), Chapter 13
    • She was about to retort but something checked the words on her tongue.
  • To verify or compare with a source of information.
    • Check your data against known values.
  • To leave in safekeeping.
    • Check your hat and coat at the door.
  • To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
    • Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.
  • 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 !
  • To physically remove a person from play.
    • The hockey player checked the defenceman to obtain the puck .
  • (poker) 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 .
  • (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
    • The good king, his master, will check him for it.
  • (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.
    • The sun checks timber.
  • To make a stop; to pause; with at .
  • * John Locke
    • 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.
  • (obsolete) To clash or interfere.
    • (Francis Bacon)
  • To act as a curb or restraint.
  • * Dryden
    • It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
  • (falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
  • * Shakespeare
    • 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 up
    Derived 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 * unchecked

    Etymology 2

    By shortening from checker, from (etyl) scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (textiles, usually, pluralized) A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
    • The tablecloth had red and white check s.

    References

    * * 'Check' at EtymOnline English terms derived from Persian ----