Meaning & use
periodic check
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Meanings
nouncountable
an examination of something that is done regularly, usually to make sure it is working or safe
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a periodic check' or 'periodic checks'. Often followed by 'on' or 'of'.
Patterns
- a periodic check on something
- a periodic check of something
- carry out periodic checks
- do a periodic check
The nurse does a periodic check on the patient's blood pressure.
We carry out periodic checks of the fire alarms every month.
A periodic check of the accounts is required by law.
nouncountablemedical
a medical test that is repeated at fixed times to monitor a condition or a person's health
Grammar: Often used in medical contexts; can be plural: 'periodic checks'.
Patterns
- periodic checks for something
- have regular periodic checks
- a periodic check for cancer
People over fifty should have periodic checks for diabetes.
The doctor recommended periodic checks to make sure the treatment is working.
Periodic checks are important for catching problems early.
Word forms
| plural | periodic checks |
|---|
Common combinations
- do a periodic check
- I'll do a periodic check of the machine before we start.
- carry out periodic checks
- The company carries out periodic checks on all its equipment.
- periodic check on something
- They made a periodic check on the building's security.
- regular periodic check
- A regular periodic check helps prevent small problems from getting worse.
Synonyms and how they differ
- routine check
- Similar meaning, but 'routine' emphasizes that it is part of a normal procedure, while 'periodic' emphasizes that it happens at fixed intervals.
- regular check
- More common in everyday speech; 'regular' can mean evenly spaced or simply frequent, whereas 'periodic' is more precise about timing.
- inspection
- A more formal word for an official examination; it may be done once rather than repeatedly.
Word family
- periodically adverb
- at regular intervals
- periodic adjective
- happening at regular intervals
Commonly confused: periodic check or periodical?
periodic check vs periodical
A 'periodical' is a magazine or journal published at regular intervals, not a check. Don't confuse the noun 'periodical' with the adjective 'periodic'.
Practice
The technician made a periodic ______ the generator to ensure it was safe.
Choose one answer.
'Check on' is used when you examine something to see its condition or make sure it is okay. 'Check of' is possible but less common; 'check for' means looking for something specific (like a fault); 'check in' means registering at a hotel or airport.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “periodic check”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.