ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cheek

n. · v.
US //ˈtʃik// UK //tʃˈiːk// cheek
  1. 1 part of the face (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the soft part of your face on either side of your nose and below your eyes.

    the fleshy part of either side of the face below the eye and between the nose and ear.

    Example

    The cold winter wind made her cheeks turn bright red.

    Example

    The child had a small dimple in his left cheek that only appeared when he smiled broadly at his parents.
    • jowl
  2. 2 rude behavior (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal British English

    behavior that is slightly rude or shows a lack of respect.

    impudence or insolence; behavior that is bold and disrespectful, often in a way that is annoying but not necessarily aggressive.

    Example

    He had the cheek to ask for more money after doing a bad job.

    Example

    I cannot believe she had the cheek to show up at the party uninvited after the argument we had last week.
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  1. 3 buttocks (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    one of the two rounded parts of a person's bottom.

    either of the two fleshy protuberances that form the human buttocks.

    Example

    The swimsuit was so small that her cheeks were showing.

    Example

    The cyclist suffered a painful bruise on his right cheek after falling off his bike during the final sprint.
    • buttock
  2. 4 to be rude to someone (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal British English

    to speak to someone in a rude or disrespectful way.

    to address someone with impudence or insolence.

    Example

    Don't you dare cheek your mother like that.

    Example

    The student was sent to the principal's office after he cheeked the teacher in front of the entire class.
    • sass
    • mouth off
  3. 5 mechanical sides (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Technical

    one of two matching side pieces of a tool or machine.

    one of the side pieces of a structure or machine part, such as the sides of an axehead or a pulley block.

    Example

    The cheeks of the vice hold the wood firmly in place.

    Example

    The blacksmith carefully inspected the cheeks of the axehead for any signs of structural fatigue before finishing the handle.

    Usage

    Usually used in plural when referring to the pair of side pieces.
Origin

From Middle English cheeke, cheke, cheoke, choke, from Old English ċēce, ċēace, ċēoce (“cheek; jaw”), from Proto-West Germanic kākā, keukā (“jaw, cheek”), from Proto-Germanic kēkǭ, keukǭ (“jaw; palate; pharynx”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ǵyewh₁- (“to chew”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Sooke (“cheek”), West Frisian tsjeak (“jaw”), Dutch kaak (“jaw; cheek”), Swedish käke (“jaw; jowl”), Norwegian kjake (“jaw”), Old Norse kók (“mouth; gullet”).

Word family
Idioms2 entries

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