frontal

noun fron·tal \ ˈfrən-tᵊl \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: frontal in a Sentence

Definition of frontal

[Middle English frontel, from Medieval Latin frontellum, diminutive of Latin front-, frons]

: a cloth hanging over the front of an altar

2 : facade 1

Recent Examples of frontal from the Web

Viewed from the side, Washington’s Roman nose seems larger than in the frontal poses in the familiar paintings.

— barrymore laurence scherer, WSJ, "‘Canova’s George Washington’ Review: The Very Model of a Lost Masterpiece," 9 June 2018
His frontals start at $1,000, lace front wigs go for $2000, and custom wigs go for double that.

— refinery29.com, "Death Threats & $3 Ponytails: What The Fake Hair Trade Is Hiding," 9 June 2018
There should be some sunshine Tuesday morning before an approaching frontal system generates some afternoon and evening showers.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Rain In The Forecast For Monday And Tuesday," 3 June 2018
The month’s weather was marked by a persistent pattern in which frontal boundaries remained draped over the region.

— scott dance, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore rainfall topped 8 inches for just the third time on record in May," 1 June 2018
But in modern humans, the frontal lobes of the brain have expanded toward the back and sides, creating structures called the frontal opercula.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Homo naledi’s brain: Like ours, but smaller," 14 May 2018
The damage the disease is doing is to his frontal cortex, where cognition and intellect resides.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "CT Poet To Share Her Beloved's Journey Through Alzheimer's At Sunken Garden Fest," 17 May 2018
Well south of Interstate 80 will be a nearly stationary west-east frontal boundary.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Cloudy, cool conditions extend into weekend," 10 May 2018
If your frontal cortex is hanging out in delta, this suggests your arousal level will be lower and higher cortical functions will be suppressed, which the Zinns noted in a 2016 study in the journal NeuroRegulation.

— megan doherty, Chicago Reader, "ME myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome CFS Millions Missing Depaul University CDC," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frontal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of frontal

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

frontal

adjective

Definition of frontal

1 : of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone

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

b : directed against the front or at the main point or issue : direct

frontal assault

3 : parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane

4 : of or relating to a meteorological front

—

frontally

play \ˈfrən-tᵊl-ē\ adverb

See frontal defined for English-language learners

See frontal defined for kids

Examples of frontal in a Sentence

most cars have the engine in the frontal part

Recent Examples of frontal from the Web

The Insurance Institute estimates 25 percent of serious injuries and fatalities from frontal crashes are the result of these types of accidents, reports CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

— CBS News, "Latest crash tests reveal safety concerns for Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee," 12 June 2018
This is an unquestionable R, for everything from full-frontal nudity to buckets of blood.

— tasha robinson, The Verge, "Ari Aster’s breakout horror hit Hereditary is pants-wettingly scary," 8 June 2018
Jumpers need constant extension from the hips and correct hand positioning, with the hands in the frontal plane of the body and a loose flicking of the wrists rather than intense shoulder and arm strength.

— jenny mccoy, SELF, "5-Time Jump Rope World Champion Molly Metz Shares What It Takes to Dominate in the Sport," 1 June 2018
Look no further than Congressional Republicans’ and President Trump’s agenda: billions in tax cuts for the rich, massive giveaways to special interests and the full-frontal corporate assault on workers’ rights and consumers’ protections.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Democrats Have Finally Found Their Midterm Message," 22 May 2018
The 105-millimeter gun of the AMX-10RC can no longer penetrate the frontal armor of modern tanks, and the HOT anti-tank missile, comparable to the American TOW-II, is also an older system with questionable utility against new tanks.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "France’s New Armored Car Does Not Mess Around," 17 May 2018
This is due to tropical moisture that will be interacting with a frontal zone in the region, says the National Weather Service.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "10 inches of rain? Southwestern NC may feel force of tropical storm on Memorial Day | Charlotte Observer," 25 May 2018
Weather conditions have been persistent since late last week, featuring a frontal boundary that has wavered across the Midwest for four days.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Volatile weather pattern continues into Tuesday," 13 May 2018
The rain comes courtesy of a strengthening frontal boundary moving across central Illinois and Indiana that will bring low pressure impulses into the area.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Get your yard work done now — it will be rainy and cold this weekend," 10 May 2018