cheque

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, NZ) A printed paper form you write on to tell your bank to pay money from your account to someone. tree →
2. (US spelling: check) The same thing. tree →

In the lessons

In money lessons a cheque is an older way of paying: you write the amount in figures and words and sign it. Many people now use cards and phone payments instead, but grandparents still post cheques for birthdays. Phrases: «write a cheque», «pay by cheque», «cash a cheque», «a blank cheque» (permission to spend anything).

Examples

• Grandma sent me a cheque for my birthday. tree →
• You write the amount in words and numbers on a cheque. tree →
• Dad paid in the cheque at the bank. tree →
• Hardly any shops take cheques now. tree →
• The charity got a giant cheque for £1,000. tree →
• Don't sign a blank cheque — anyone could fill in the amount. tree →

Note

UK spelling cheque, US spelling check; same sound as «check». In the USA «check» also means the bill in a restaurant. Countable.