front

front

front¹ [frunt]

n.

[ME < OFr < L frons (gen. frontis), forehead, front < IE * bhren-, to project > OE brant, steep, high]

1. Now Rare

a) the forehead

b) the face; countenance

2.

a) attitude or appearance, as of the face, indicating state of mind; external behavior when facing a problem, etc. [to put on a bold front]

b) Informal an appearance, usually pretended or assumed, of social standing, wealth, etc.

3. Rare impudence; effrontery

4. the part of something that faces forward or is regarded as facing forward; most important side; forepart

5. the first part; beginning [toward the front of the book]

6. the place or position directly before a person or thing

7. a forward or leading position or situation

☆ 8. the first available bellhop or page, as in a hotel: generally used as a call

9. the land bordering a lake, ocean, street, etc.

10. Brit. a promenade along a body of water

11. the advanced line, or the whole area, of contact between opposing sides in warfare; combat zone

12. a specified area of activity [the home front, the political front]

13. a broad movement in which different groups are united for the achievement of certain common political or social aims

☆ 14. a person who serves as a public representative of a business, group, etc., usually because of his or her prestige

☆ 15. a person or group used to cover or obscure the activity or objectives of another, controlling person or group

16. a stiff shirt bosom, worn with formal clothes

17. Archit. a face of a building; esp., the face with the principal entrance

18. Meteorol. the boundary between two air masses of different density and temperature

adj.

1. at, to, in, on, or of the front

2. Phonet. articulated with the tongue toward the front of the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (i) in bid

vt.

1. to face; be opposite to

2. to be before in place

3. to meet; confront

4. to defy; oppose

5. to supply or serve as a front, or facing, of

6. to be the leader or best-known member of (a musical band)

vi.

1. to face in a certain direction [a castle fronting on the sea ]

☆ 2. to act as a FRONT¹ (senses 14 & 15): with for

——————

in front of

before; in a position ahead of

front²

abbrev.

frontispiece