checker
checker Lexical Profile
checker Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person or automated tool that inspects, verifies, or examines something for accuracy, quality, or compliance.
"She ran the manuscript through an automated grammar checker before submitting it to the editor."
North American One of the flat, round playing pieces used in the board game of checkers, or (in plural, treated as singular) the board game itself.
"He jumped his opponent's red checker to reach the far side of the board."
A pattern of alternating squares of different colors, resembling a chessboard, or a single square within such a pattern.
"The kitchen floor was tiled in a classic black-and-white checker."
North American An employee at a supermarket or retail store who scans items and totals purchases at the checkout counter.
"The grocery checker politely asked if we preferred paper or reusable bags."
• verb
American To mark, decorate, or divide with an alternating pattern of squares or contrasting patches of light and shade.
"Afternoon sunlight filtering through the oak leaves checkered the stone pathway."
American To diversify or characterize with varied, irregular, or alternating episodes of success and failure.
"Financial setbacks and sudden triumphs checkered his early career in publishing."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, the pattern and verb senses are typically spelled 'chequer', while the board game is known as 'draughts'.
• Rhymes for checker
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The pattern sense derives from Middle English 'cheker' (a chessboard), from Old French 'eschequier', ultimately tracing back to the Persian word 'shah' (king) used in chess; the agent noun sense is formed directly from the verb 'check' plus the suffix '-er'.