Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear.
  • noun A person.
  • noun A person's countenance.
  • noun A contorted facial expression; a grimace.
  • noun Facial cosmetics.
  • noun Outward appearance.
  • noun Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige.
  • noun Self-assurance; confidence.
  • noun Effrontery; impudence.
  • noun The most significant or prominent surface of an object, especially.
  • noun The surface presented to view; the front.
  • noun A façade.
  • noun Outer surface.
  • noun A marked side.
  • noun The right side, as of fabric.
  • noun An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock.
  • noun A planar surface of a geometric solid.
  • noun Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.
  • noun The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing.
  • noun The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography.
  • noun A typeface or range of typefaces.
  • noun The raised printing surface of a piece of type.
  • intransitive verb To occupy a position with the face toward.
  • intransitive verb To front on.
  • intransitive verb To meet or confront with self-assurance.
  • intransitive verb To acknowledge and accept or deal with: synonym: defy.
  • intransitive verb To be certain to encounter; have in store.
  • intransitive verb To bring or to be brought face to face with.
  • intransitive verb To cause (troops) to change direction by giving a command.
  • intransitive verb Games To turn (a playing card) so that the face is up.
  • intransitive verb To furnish with a surface or cover of a different material.
  • intransitive verb To line or trim the edge of, especially with contrasting material.
  • intransitive verb To treat the surface of so as to smooth.
  • intransitive verb To be turned or placed with the front toward a specified direction.
  • intransitive verb To turn the face in a specified direction.
  • idiom (face the music) To accept the unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions.
  • idiom (in the face/teeth) In opposition to or defiance of.
  • idiom (on the face of it) From appearances alone; apparently.
  • idiom (show (one's) face) To make an appearance.
  • idiom (to (one's) face) In the view or hearing of.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To deface.
  • To damage or spoil the surface of, as by wear or accident.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *facia, from Latin faciēs; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Middle English from Anglo-Norman, from Old French face (Modern French face), from Vulgar Latin *facia, from Latin facies ("form, appearance"), from facere "to make", "to do". Replaced native Middle English onlete "face, countenance, appearance" (from Old English anwlite, compare Old English ansīen "face"), Middle English neb "face, nose" (from Old English nebb), Middle English ler, leor, leer "face, cheek, countenance" (from Old English hlēor), and non-native Middle English vis "face, appearance, look" (from Old French vis).

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Examples

Comments

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  • Quite a satisfyingly vindictive word, when said with gusto.

    August 21, 2008

  • the mind, presence, before, ancient, anger

    July 22, 2009

  • Used for remembering the notes F, A, C, and E in the spaces of the treble clef.

    July 9, 2010