front

¹front

noun \ˈfrənt\

Definition of FRONT

1

a : forehead; also : the whole face

b : external and often feigned appearance especially in the face of danger or adversity

2

a (1) : vanguard (2) : a line of battle (3) : a zone of conflict between armies

b (1) : a stand on an issue : policy (2) : an area of activity or interest <progress on the educational front> (3) : a movement linking divergent elements to achieve common objectives; especially : a political coalition

3

: a side of a building; especially : the side that contains the principal entrance

4

a : the forward part or surface

b (1) : frontage (2) : a beach promenade at a seaside resort

c : dickey 1a

d : the boundary between two dissimilar air masses

5

archaic : beginning

6

a (1) : a position ahead of a person or of the foremost part of a thing (2) —used as a call by a hotel desk clerk in summoning a bellhop

b : a position of leadership or superiority

7

a : a person, group, or thing used to mask the identity or true character or activity of the actual controlling agent

b : a person who serves as the nominal head or spokesman of an enterprise or group to lend it prestige

— in front of

: directly before or ahead of

— out front

: in the audience

Examples of FRONT

1. <the front of the church features a magnificent stained-glass window>
2. <that smile is just a front—I don't think she actually likes me at all>

Origin of FRONT

Middle English, from Anglo-French frunt, front, from Latin front-, frons

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to FRONT

Synonyms

exterior, facade (also façade), face, forehead, forepart

Antonyms

back, rear, rearward, reverse

Related Words

outside, skin, surface, veneer

Near Antonyms

innards, inside, interior

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with FRONT

blunt, brunt, bunt, grunt, hunt, Lunt, punt, runt, shunt, strunt, stunt, want, wont

²front

verb

Definition of FRONT

intransitive verb

1

: to have the front or principal side adjacent to something; also : to have frontage on something <a ten-acre plot fronting on a lake — Current Biography>

2

: to serve as a front <fronting for special interests>

transitive verb

1

a : confront <went to the woods because I wished … to front only the essential facts of life — H. D. Thoreau>

b : to appear before <daily fronted him in some fresh splendor — Alfred Tennyson>

2

a : to be in front of <a lawn fronting the house>

b : to be the leader of (a musical group) <appeared as a soloist and fronted bands>

3

: to face toward or have frontage on <the house fronts the street>

4

: to supply a front to <fronted the building with bricks>

5

a : to articulate (a sound) with the tongue farther forward

b : to move (a word or phrase) to the beginning of a sentence

6

basketball : to play in front of (an opposing player) rather than between the player and the basket

7

: advance 7 <fronted him the cash>

Examples of FRONT

1. The house fronts Main Street.
2. The house fronts on Main Street.
3. He is now fronting a different band.
4. He fronts a talk show.

First Known Use of FRONT

1523

Related to FRONT

Synonyms

face, look (toward), point (toward)

Related Words

abut, adjoin, border, bound, fringe, margin, meet, neighbor, rim, skirt, touch; command, dominate, overlook; look down (on)

³front

adjective

Definition of FRONT

1

a : of, relating to, or situated at the front

b : acting as a front <front company>

2

: articulated at or toward the front of the oral passage <front vowels>

3

: constituting the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course

— front adverb

Examples of FRONT

1. There's a small statue on the front lawn.
2. He keeps his wallet in his front pocket.

First Known Use of FRONT

1600

Related to FRONT

Synonyms

anterior, fore, forward, frontal, frontward (or frontwards)

Antonyms

aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear, rearward

Related Words

ventral

Near Antonyms

dorsal

⁴front

abbreviation

Definition of FRONT

frontispiece

front

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In meteorology, the interface or transition zone between two air masses of different density and temperature. Frontal zones are frequently accompanied by low barometric pressure, marked changes in wind direction and relative humidity, and considerable cloudiness and precipitation.