cheek

 
Pronunciation: /tʃiːk/

noun

  • 1either side of the face below the eye: tears rolled down her cheeks
  • either of the inner sides of the mouth: Gabriel had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing
  • 2either of the buttocks.
  • 3either of two side pieces or parts arranged in lateral pairs in a structure.
  • 4 [in singular] talk or behaviour regarded as rude or lacking in respect: he had the cheek to complain

verb

[with object] British informal
  • speak impertinently to: Frankie always got away with cheeking his elders

Phrases

cheek by jowl

close together: they lived cheek by jowl in a one-room flat
[from a use of jowl in the sense 'cheek'; the phrase was originally cheek by cheek]

cheek to cheek

(of two people dancing) with their heads close together in a romantic way: they were dancing cheek to cheek to a stereo in the apartment

turn the other cheek

refrain from retaliating when one has been attacked or insulted.
[with biblical allusion to Matt. 5:39]

Derivatives

cheeked

adjective
[in combination]: rosy-cheeked

Origin:

Old English cē(a)ce, cēoce 'cheek, jaw', of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch kaak