cheek

[cheek]

noun

1. either side of the face below the eye and above the jaw.

2. the side wall of the mouth between the upper and lower jaws.

3. something resembling the side of the human face in form or position, as either of two parts forming corresponding sides of various objects.

   the cheeks of a vise.

4. impudence or effrontery.

   He's got a lot of cheek to say that to me!

   Synonyms: gall, brass, audacity, nerve

5. Slang.,  either of the buttocks.

6. Architecture.

   1. one side of an opening, as a reveal.

   2. either of two similar faces of a projection, as a buttress or dormer.

7. Carpentry.

   1. a piece of wood removed from the end of a timber in making a tenon.

   2. a piece of wood on either side of a mortise.

8. one side of a hammer head.

9. Horology.,  one of two pieces placed on both sides of the suspension spring of a pendulum to control the amplitude of oscillation or to give the arc of the pendulum a cycloidal form.

10. one of the two main vertical supports forming the frame of a hand printing press.

11. Machinery.,  either of the sides of a pulley or block.

12. Nautical.,  either of a pair of fore-and-aft members at the lower end of the head of a lower mast, used to support trestletrees which in turn support a top and often the heel of a topmast; one of the hounds of a lower mast.

13. Metallurgy.,  any part of a flask between the cope and the drag.

cheek

/ tʃiːk /

noun

1. 1. either side of the face, esp that part below the eye

   2. either side of the oral cavity; side of the mouth

2. informal,  impudence; effrontery

3. informal,  (often plural) either side of the buttocks

4. (often plural) a side of a door jamb

5. nautical one of the two fore-and-aft supports for the trestletrees on a mast of a sailing vessel, forming part of the hounds

6. one of the jaws of a vice

7. close together; intimately linked

8. to be submissive and refuse to retaliate even when provoked or treated badly

9. See tongue

verb

1. informal,  (tr) to speak or behave disrespectfully to; act impudently towards

Other Word Forms

• cheekless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheek¹

before 900; Middle English cheke, Old English cē ( a ) ce; akin to Dutch kaak, Middle Low German kake

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheek¹

Old English ceace; related to Middle Low German kāke, Dutch kaak

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (with) tongue in cheek. tongue.

2. cheek by jowl, in close intimacy; side by side.

   a row of houses cheek by jowl.

More idioms and phrases containing cheek

• tongue in cheek
• turn the other cheek

Example Sentences

In one image a dead man’s cheeks seem to be stuffed with cotton to appear more full.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When Roz walked in, the girl was chopping an onion with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Read more on Literature

Coach Joe Torres spoke impassioned, with tears rolling down his cheek after the game, lamenting the officials “taking the game” from his team.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The soft flesh of her cheeks and mouth contrasts with her firm chin, and her knowing, distant gaze contains a hint of melancholy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They’re vicious caricatures of Richard Nixon, with his face reduced to bulging, stubbled cheeks and a tubular nose.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• lip