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¹front

noun \ˈfrənt\

: the forward part or surface of something : the part of something that is seen first

: a place, position, or area that is most forward or is directly ahead

: the part of your body that faces forward and includes your face and chest

Full Definition of FRONT

a : forehead; also : the whole face

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

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

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

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

archaic : beginning

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

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

See front defined for English-language learners

See front defined for kids

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

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

: to have the face or front toward (something)

: to be the leader or lead singer of (a musical group)

: to host or present (a radio or TV program)

Full Definition of FRONT

intransitive verb

: 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>

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

transitive verb

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>

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>

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

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

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

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

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

: advance 7 <fronted him the cash>