cheek

American  

[cheek] / tʃik /

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.

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idioms

1. (with) tongue in cheek. tongue.

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

   a row of houses cheek by jowl.

cheek British  

/ 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

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verb

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

cheek More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cheek

• tongue in cheek
• turn the other cheek

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Other Word Forms

• cheekless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cheek

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

Explanation

Your cheek is the part of your face under your eye and between your ear and nose. Your cheeks might turn bright red in embarrassment when you have to speak in public. When you cry, your cheeks get wet, and when you greet your grandmother, she might give you a kiss on the cheek or even pinch your cheek. Informally, your cheeks are also your buttocks or bottom — and when you're a little rude or sassy, your attitude itself can be called cheek. It comes from the Old English word ceace, "jaw," which probably stems from ceowan, "chew."

Example Sentences

A fragment from a much larger painting, it shows a severe Mary with the small hand of the Christ Child tenderly grazing her cheek.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Meloni received Rubio politely, with the customary Italian cheek kisses and brief hug, but without the demonstrative warmth she sometimes shows other dignitaries.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Yardy's tongue is slightly in his cheek - but that is a question now facing the world game.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

At the end of their meeting, she kissed Arthur on the cheek.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Cam shook his head, slow, back and forth, his hair brushing her cheek, her forehead.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• lip