frontal

1 of 2

noun

fron·​tal ˈfrən-tᵊl How to pronounce frontal (audio)
1
[Middle English frontel, from Medieval Latin frontellum, diminutive of Latin front-, frons] : a cloth hanging over the front of an altar
2

frontal

2 of 2

adjective

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 adverb

Examples of frontal in a Sentence

Adjective most cars have the engine in the frontal part
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There’s some nonsexual nudity, including brief full frontals, set in a virtual world. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024 Higher levels of stress are found in the hypothalamus; lower stress are found in the dorsal lateral frontal cortex. Fox News, 29 May 2020
Adjective
In a few days, a non-tropical area of low pressure could form along a residual frontal boundary a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coastline. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Sep. 2024 That may be followed by more widespread storms Thursday, which is Halloween, and into Friday morning as the frontal boundary stirs up the atmosphere over Houston. Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frontal 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin frontalis, from Latin front-, frons

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frontal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frontal

Cite this Entry

“Frontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frontal. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

frontal

adjective
front·​al
ˈfrənt-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or next to the forehead
2
: of, relating to, or directed at the front
a frontal attack
frontally
-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Medical Definition

frontal

adjective
fron·​tal ˈfrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce frontal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone
2
: of, relating to, or situated at the front or anteriorly
3
: parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane
a frontal plane
frontally adverb

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