# cheek

Pronunciation: say "CHEEK" /t͡ʃiːk/

## Noun

1. The soft skin on either side of the face below the eyes, and the inner wall on each side of the mouth.
   - Simple: The soft skin on each side of your face, below your eyes.
   - _A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek._
   - _The dentist gently pressed the inside of his cheek to check for swelling._
2. Either lower curve of the buttocks, the part that skimpy briefs, swimwear, or very short shorts often leave on show. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The lower, rounded part of the bottom that very short swimwear or briefs may leave bare.
   - _The thong bikini left almost the entire cheek uncovered._
   - _He slapped his own cheek for laughs as he ran into the pool in tiny trunks._
3. Bold or disrespectful behavior; impudence shown toward someone in a brazen way. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Rude, bold behavior that shows no respect.
   - _She had the cheek to complain about a meal she ate for free._
   - _Asking for a raise the day after showing up late takes real cheek._
6. Either of the flat side faces of an axehead.
   - Simple: One of the flat sides of an axe head.
   - _The smith hammered the cheek of the axehead until it was even._
   - _A splitting maul has a much thicker cheek than a felling axe._
7. Either of the side branches of a bridle bit, lying alongside the horse's mouth.
   - Simple: One of the side pieces of a horse's bit, lying beside the mouth.
   - _A longer cheek on the bit gives the rider more leverage._
   - _The trainer checked that the cheek of the bit sat correctly against the lips._
8. One of a pair of matching side pieces, in a machine or in timber or stonework, that form the corresponding sides of an assembly.
   - Simple: One of a matching pair of side pieces in a machine or building.
   - _The mason squared the stone cheek of the fireplace opening._
   - _One cheek of the machine frame had cracked under the load._
10. The middle section of a molding flask, built to move sideways so that the pattern can be removed from the mold.
   - Simple: The middle part of a casting flask that slides sideways to free the pattern.
   - _The molder loosened the cheek before drawing out the pattern._
   - _A three-part flask uses a cheek between the cope and the drag._
11. A fork-shaped piece of wood that holds the pump's brake by a bolt, letting it pivot and work the upper box of a ship's pump up and down.
   - Simple: A forked wooden piece that holds a pump handle so it can move the pump up and down.
   - _The carpenter cut a new cheek for the ship's pump._
   - _The brake pivots on a bolt set through the cheek._
12. Either of the flat areas, called genae, on the sides of a trilobite's head shield. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: One of the flat areas on the side of a trilobite's head.
   - _The free cheek of the trilobite had separated along the facial suture._
   - _Paleontologists measured the cheek on each side of the cephalon._

## Verb

4. To speak or behave impudently toward someone, often by answering back disrespectfully.
   - Simple: To speak in a rude, bold way to someone.
   - _The boy cheeked his grandmother and was sent straight to his room._
   - _Pupils who cheek the staff usually end up in detention._
5. To put or keep something tucked between the teeth and the inner wall of the cheek.
   - Simple: To hold something inside your cheek instead of swallowing it.
   - _Patients sometimes cheek their pills and spit them out later._
   - _She cheeked the lozenge while she finished her sentence._
9. In riding, to use the cheek strap of the bridle to bring a horse's head back toward the saddle.
   - Simple: To pull a horse's head back toward the saddle using the side strap of the bridle.
   - _Riders sometimes cheek a fractious horse to control its head._
   - _He cheeked the stallion until it stopped tossing its head._

## Origin

From Middle English cheeke, from Old English ċēce, ċēace ("cheek; jaw"), from Proto-West Germanic and Proto-Germanic roots meaning "jaw, cheek, palate," perhaps ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to chew." It is related to Dutch kaak ("jaw; cheek") and Swedish käke ("jaw").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cheek (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).