checker

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One, such as an inspector or examiner, that checks.
2. n. One that receives items for temporary safekeeping or for shipment: a baggage checker.
3. n. A game played on a checkerboard by two players, each using 12 pieces.
4. n. One of the round flat pieces used in this game.
5. n. A pattern of checks or squares.
6. n. One of the squares in such a pattern.
7. n. A cashier.
8. v. To mark with a checked or squared pattern.
9. v. To diversify (something) in color, shading, or character; variegate.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A checker-board; a chess-board. See checker-board.
2. n. The game of chess.
3. n. plural A game played with twenty-four pieces or men on a board divided into sixty-four checks or squares. Each of the two players is provided with twelve pieces, which are placed on alternate squares on the first three rows on one of two opposite sides of the board. The men are moved forward diagonally to the right or left one square at a time, or over an opposing piece if there is an empty space beyond it on the same diagonal; in the latter case the man thus “jumped” is “taken”—that is, removed from the board. Two or more pieces can be taken at once if similarly exposed, with one intervening empty square between each pair into which the adversary can “jump.” The object of each player is to capture all his opponent's men, or to hem them in so that they cannot move. When a player succeeds in moving a piece to the further end of the board (the crown-head or king-row), that piece is crowned or becomes a “king,” and has the power to move or capture diagonally backward or forward. In Polish checkers there are one hundred squares on the board, and forty counters; the men can move in taking either backward or forward, and kings can move the whole length of the board on the diagonals when no pieces intervene. Also called draughts.
4. n. A piece or man in the game of checkers.
5. n. A treasury; a court or bureau of revenue; an exchequer (which see).
6. n. A check-roll or list.
7. n. One of the squares of a checkered pattern; the pattern itself.
8. n. One of a number of spots giving to a surface a checkered appearance.
9. n. plural In architecture, stones in the facings of walls which have all their joints continued in straight lines without interruption or breaking of joints, thus presenting the appearance of checker-work.
10. n. An inn the sign-board of which was marked with checkers, probably to announce that draughts and backgammon were played within. Several houses marked with signs of this kind have been exhumed in Pompeii.
11. To mark or decorate with squares of alternate color, like a checker-board; mark with different colors.
12. Figuratively, to variegate with different qualities, scenes, or events; diversify; impart variety to; give a character of both good and evil or happiness and unhappiness to.
13. n. One who checks, in any sense of the word.
14. n. One of many spots or markings, somewhat triangular in shape, on the wings of a pigeon. A checker is larger than a spangle. The term is generally used in combination, as blue-checker, red-checker, etc., the qualifying word referring to the general color of the bird and not to that of the spots, which are usually white. Also often check.

Wiktionary

1. n. One who checks something.
2. n. The clerk who tallies cost of purchases and accepts payment.
3. n. A playing piece in the game of checkers (British: draughts).
4. v. transitive To mark in a pattern of alternating light and dark spots, like a checkerboard.
5. v. intransitive To develop markings in a pattern of alternating light and dark spots, like a checkerboard.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One who checks.
2. v. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing stripes of different colors.
3. v. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, colors, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosperity and adversity.
4. n. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers.
5. n. A pattern in checks; a single check.
6. n. Checkerwork.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. one of the flat round pieces used in playing the game of checkers
2. n. one who checks the correctness of something
3. v. mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
4. v. variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns
5. n. an attendant who checks coats or baggage