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Guess vs Check - What's the difference?

guess | check |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between guess and check

is that guess is (obsolete) to hit upon or reproduce by memory while check is (obsolete) to clash or interfere.

As verbs the difference between guess and check

is that guess is to reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion while check is to inspect; to examine.

As nouns the difference between guess and check

is that guess is a prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support 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.

guess

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . More at (l).

Verb

  • To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
  • To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
    • He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
  • (chiefly, US) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
    • That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Not all together; better far, I guess , / That we do make our entrance several ways.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • But in known images of life I guess / The labour greater.
  • *
  • (obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
    Synonyms
    * hypothesize * take a stab * speculate
    Derived terms
    * foreguess * guess what * guessable * guesser * guessing game * guesstimate * guesswork * keep someone guessing * no prize for guessing * out-guess * second-guess * you'll never guess

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) gesse. Cognate with (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
    • If you don't know the answer, take a guess .
  • *
    • Synonyms
    * estimate * hypothesis * prediction
    Derived terms
    * another-guess * anyone's guess * by guess or by gosh * educated guess * guesswork * guesstimate * otherguess * take a guess * your guess is as good as mine

    External links

    * *

    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 ----