Although the terms are really interchangeable, I still like to differentiate between "gate check" and "ramp check." On mainline (larger) planes, bags that will not go into the overloaded bins are gate checked as mentioned above and will go to the baggage carousel. On smaller, regional planes, bags that are too large to fit in the bins are often "gate checked" or "ramp checked" at the plane door and will be available planeside as you deplane at the next destination. The distinction is pretty important if you are making a connection where going all the way to baggage claim and then reclearing security prior to your next flight is impractical. "Ramp checking" a bag is no big deal. I do it all the time on the regional connections. "Gate checking" to baggage claim is evil. Avoid it.