cheek

UK: tʃiːk | US: tʃiːk

Definition
  1. n. 1. Either side of the face below the eye.

  2. n. 2. Impudent or disrespectful behavior (informal).

Structure

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Etymology

The word "cheek" traces back to Old English cēce or cēace, meaning "jaw, jawbone," and later evolved to specifically denote the fleshy part of the face. It shares Proto-Germanic roots with Dutch kaak (jaw) and German Kiefer (jaw). The informal sense of "boldness" emerged in the 19th century, likely from the idea of "turning the cheek" defiantly or showing audacity.

Examples
  1. She kissed him lightly on the cheek.

  2. He had the cheek to ask for a raise after being late all week.

  3. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened to the sad story.

  4. The toddler’s chubby cheeks were rosy from the cold.

  5. It takes a lot of cheek to interrupt the boss during a meeting.