# cheek

/ˈtʃik/ (US) · /tʃˈiːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cheek
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. part of the face

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The cold winter wind made her cheeks turn bright red.
- The child had a small dimple in his left cheek that only appeared when he smiled broadly at his parents.

### 2. rude behavior

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

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

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

- He had the cheek to ask for more money after doing a bad job.
- I cannot believe she had the cheek to show up at the party uninvited after the argument we had last week.

### 3. buttocks

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

For teachers: either of the two fleshy protuberances that form the human buttocks.

- The swimsuit was so small that her cheeks were showing.
- The cyclist suffered a painful bruise on his right cheek after falling off his bike during the final sprint.

### 4. to be rude to someone

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · British English

to speak to someone in a rude or disrespectful way.

For teachers: to address someone with impudence or insolence.

- Don't you dare cheek your mother like that.
- The student was sent to the principal's office after he cheeked the teacher in front of the entire class.

### 5. mechanical sides

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The child has a small scratch on his left cheek.
- He had the cheek to ask for a refund after he had already eaten the entire meal.
- The cold wind caused a bright flush to appear on her cheeks as she stepped out from the sheltered valley onto the exposed ridge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.