Definitions

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

  • noun The forward part or surface, as of a building.
  • noun The area, location, or position directly before or ahead.
  • noun A position of leadership or superiority.
  • noun The forehead or face, especially of a bird or other animal.
  • noun Demeanor or bearing, especially in the presence of danger or difficulty.
  • noun An outward, often feigned, appearance or manner.
  • noun Land bordering a lake, river, or street.
  • noun A promenade along the water at a resort.
  • noun A detachable part of a man's dress shirt covering the chest; a dickey.
  • noun The most forward line of a combat force.
  • noun The area of contact between opposing combat forces; a battlefront.
  • noun Meteorology The interface between air masses of different temperatures or densities.
  • noun A field of activity.
  • noun A group or movement uniting various individuals or organizations for the achievement of a common purpose; a coalition.
  • noun A nominal leader lacking in real authority; a figurehead.
  • noun An apparently respectable person, group, or business used as a cover for secret or illegal activities.
  • noun The first part; the beginning.
  • noun The face; the countenance.
  • adjective Of, relating to, aimed at, or located in the front.
  • adjective Linguistics Designating vowels produced at or toward the front of the oral cavity, such as the vowels of green and get.
  • intransitive verb To look out on; face.
  • intransitive verb To meet in opposition; confront.
  • intransitive verb To provide a front for.
  • intransitive verb To serve as a front for.
  • intransitive verb Music To lead (a group of musicians).
  • intransitive verb Informal To provide before payment.
  • intransitive verb Linguistics To move (a word or phrase) to the beginning of a clause or sentence, typically for emphasis or contrast.
  • intransitive verb Linguistics To cause (a vowel) to be pronounced farther toward the front of the oral cavity.
  • intransitive verb To have a front; face onto something else.
  • intransitive verb To provide an apparently respectable cover for secret or illegal activities.
  • interjection Used by a desk clerk in a hotel to summon a bellhop.
  • idiom (front and center) In the most prominent position.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To meet face to face; come into the presence of; confront.
  • To oppose face to face; oppose directly; encounter.
  • To stand in front of, or opposed or opposite to, or over against; face.
  • To supply with a front; furnish or adorn in front: as, to front a house with granite.
  • To have the face or front toward some point of the compass or some object; be in a confronting or opposed position.
  • To stand foremost.
  • To stand or go in opposition; go counter.
  • noun In theat, language: That part of a theater which, from the actor's point of view, lies in front of the curtain; the auditorium or audience part; hence, the audience itself: as, to be in the front.
  • noun Everybody engaged to work before the curtain.
  • noun Milit., the entire system of defenses constructed along one side of the polygon inclosing the site to be fortified: as, a bastion or polygonal front.
  • noun The forehead-piece of a bridle, generally of leather with metal trimmings.
  • noun The exterior surface of a lock mortised into a door; the portion of a lock that is visible and through which the bolt, passes; in a rim-lock, the end facing the doorframe.
  • noun In entomology, practically the forehead; the part of the face between the eyes and between the vertex and the clypeus.

Etymologies

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

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin frōns, front-, forehead, front.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French front (noun), fronter (verb), from Latin frons ("forehead").

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Examples

  • From the inner side of the front crescent, a crescentic _front ridge_ passes inwards and backwards, and its inner face enlarges into a strong longitudinal fold or _pillar_.

    American Addresses, with a Lecture on the Study of Biology Thomas Henry Huxley 1860

  • From the inner side of the front crescent, a crescentic _front ridge_ passes inwards and backwards, and its inner face enlarges into a strong longitudinal fold or _pillar.

    Lectures on Evolution Thomas Henry Huxley 1860

  • From the inner side of the front crescent, a crescentic _front ridge_ passes inwards and backwards, and its inner face enlarges into a strong longitudinal fold or _pillar_.

    Lectures and Essays Thomas Henry Huxley 1860

  • It will be observed that this movement of the French reserve along the whole front was the cause of five victories, neither of which had decisive results, _because the attacks were made in front_, and because, when the cities were relieved, the allied armies not being cut through, and the French reserve moving on to the different points in succession, none of the victories was pushed to its legitimate consequences.

    The Art of War Henri Jomini 1824

  • The extent of the front occupied toward the enemy is called the _strategic front_.

    The Art of War Henri Jomini 1824

  • In lefs central places, but in good ftreets, unfurnifhed houfes of twenty feet in front* two rooms and a light cloiet on a floor, may be. had for fixty or feventy. .guineas., a-year; and houfes of eighteen feet in front for forty or thirty guineas, according to the fituation and conveniences.

    The London adviser and guide: containing every instruction and information ... 1790

  • A table in front is crammed full of empty cans of soft drinks including her favourite new tipple, energy drink Red Bull.

    Pink is the New Blog | Everybody's Business Is My Business » Blog Archive » Lindsay Lohan Shows Off Her SCRAM Bracelet 2010

  • Tailgating the driver in front is not only cuntish behaviour, but it restricts your view of the road ahead and your ability to anticipate situations.

    Use less fuel – drive like a christian « We Don't Count Your Own Visits To Your Blog 2008

  • Nonsense and with Bill behind her or in front is a mistake for Obama of overwhelming proportions.

    Sources: Obama's team to start VP search 2008

  • Scott Gomez helped New York get on the board when he found Naslund in front from the goal line for a one-timed shot.

    USATODAY.com 2008

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