the forward part or surface of anything:[the + ~]I sat in the front of the airplane.
the part or side of anything that faces forward:I spilled some mustard on the front of my jacket.
the part or side of anything, as a building, that is situated or directed forward:sat in the front of the restaurant.
See in front and in front of below.
land facing a road, river, etc.; frontage.
Military[the + ~]
a line of battle; the place where combat operations are carried on:The soldiers retreated from the front.
an area of activity, conflict, or competition:news from the business front.
a person or thing that serves as a cover or disguise for some other activity, esp. one of a secret, dishonest, or illegal nature:The store was a front for gamblers.
bearing, expression, or attitude in facing, confronting or dealing with anything:[usually singular]She kept a calm front throughout the ordeal.
Meteorologya zone or line between two different air masses:a cold front coming from the north into our region.
adj.[before a noun]
of or relating to the front; situated in or at the front:front seats.
v.
to have the front toward; face:[~ + object]Our house fronts the lake.
to furnish or supply a front to:[~ + object]to front a building with sandstone.
to serve as a front to:[~ + object]A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.
[~ + for + object] to serve as a cover or disguise:The shop fronts for a narcotics ring.
[~ + as + noun] to be disguised as:The drug warehouse fronted as a quiet little grocery store.
Idioms
Idiomsin front, in a forward place or position:My family was sitting in front, but I stayed in back.
Idiomsin front of:
ahead of:They were sitting in front of me.
outside the entrance of:We met in front of the hotel.
in the presence of:Don't talk like that in front of the children.
Idioms, Show Businessout front:
outside the entrance:Let's meet out front.
ahead of competitors:The runner from Kenya was out front for most of the race.
Idioms, Informal Termsup front, [Informal.]
in advance; before anything else:You'll have to make a payment of $5,000 up front.
the part or side of anything that faces forward:the front of a jacket.
the part or side of anything, as a building, that seems to look out or to be directed forward:He sat in the front of the restaurant.
any side or face, as of a building.
Building, Architecturea façade, considered with respect to its architectural treatment or material:a cast-iron front.
a property line along a street or the like:a fifty-foot front.
a place or position directly before anything:We decided to plant trees in the front.
a position of leadership in a particular endeavor or field:She rose to the front of her profession.
Military
the foremost line or part of an army.
a line of battle.
the place where combat operations are carried on.
an area of activity, conflict, or competition:news from the business front.
land facing a road, river, etc.
British Termsa promenade along a seashore.
Informal Termsa distinguished person listed as an official of an organization, for the sake of prestige, and who is usually inactive.
a person or thing that serves as a cover or disguise for some other activity, esp. one of a secret, disreputable, or illegal nature; a blind:The store was a front for foreign agents.
outward impression of rank, position, or wealth.
bearing or demeanor in confronting anything:a calm front.
haughtiness; self-importance:That clerk has the most outrageous front.
Anatomythe forehead, or the entire face:the statue's gracefully chiseled front.
a coalition or movement to achieve a particular end, usually political:the people's front.
something attached or worn at the breast, as a shirt front or a dickey:to spill gravy down one's front.
Meteorologyan interface or zone of transition between two dissimilar air masses.
Show Business[Theat.]
Show Businessthe auditorium.
the business offices of a theater.
the front of the stage; downstage.
Idiomsin front, in a forward place or position:Sit down, you in front!
Idiomsin front of:
ahead of:to walk in front of a moving crowd.
outside the entrance of:to wait in front of a house.
in the presence of:to behave badly in front of company.
out front:
outside the entrance:He's waiting out front.
ahead of competitors:This advertising campaign ought to put our business way out front.
Show Business[Theat.]in the audience or auditorium.
Informal Termscandidly; frankly:Say what you mean out front.
Informal Termsup front:
in advance; before anything else:You'll have to make a payment of $5,000 up front.
frank; open; direct:I want you to be up front with me.
adj.
of or pertaining to the front.
situated in or at the front:front seats.
Phonetics(of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue blade relatively far forward in the mouth, as the sounds of lay.
v.t.
to have the front toward; face:Our house fronts the lake.
to meet face to face; confront.
to face in opposition, hostility, or defiance.
to furnish or supply a front to:to front a building with sandstone.
to serve as a front to:A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.
Informal Termsto provide an introduction to; introduce:a recorded message that is fronted with a singing commercial.
Music and Danceto lead (a jazz or dance band).
Phoneticsto articulate (a speech sound) at a position farther front in the mouth.
Linguisticsto move (a constituent) to the beginning of a clause or sentence.
v.i.
to have or turn the front in some specified direction:Our house fronts on the lake.
to serve as a cover or disguise for another activity, esp. something of a disreputable or illegal nature:The shop fronts for a narcotics ring.
interj.
(used to call or command someone to come, look, etc., to the front, as in an order to troops on parade or in calling a hotel bellboy to the front desk):Front and center, on the double!
Latin front- (stem of frōns) forehead, brow, front
that part or side that is forward, prominent, or most often seen or used
a position or place directly before or ahead: a fountain stood at the front of the building
the beginning, opening, or first part
the position of leadership; forefront; vanguard: in the front of scientific knowledge
land bordering a lake, street, etc
land along a seashore or large lake, esp a promenade
the total area in which opposing armies face each other
the lateral space in which a military unit or formation is operating: to advance on a broad front
the dividing line or plane between two air masses or water masses of different origins and having different characteristics See alsowarm front, cold front
outward aspect or bearing, as when dealing with a situation: a bold front
a business or other activity serving as a respectable cover for another, usually criminal, organization
a nominal leader of an organization, etc, who lacks real power or authority; figurehead
outward appearance of rank or wealth
a particular field of activity involving some kind of struggle: on the wages front
a group of people with a common goal: a national liberation front
a false shirt front; a dicky
the forehead or the face
(prenominal)
of, at, or in the front: a front seat
of, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the blade of the tongue brought forward and raised towards the hard palate, as for the sound of ee in English see or a in English hat
whenintr, followed by on or onto: to be opposite (to); face (onto): this house fronts the river
(transitive)to be a front of or for
(transitive)to appear as a presenter in (a television show)
(transitive)to be the lead singer or player in (a band)
(transitive)to confront, esp in hostility or opposition
(transitive)to supply a front for
(intransitive) often followed byup: to appear (at): to front up at the police station
Etymology: 13th Century (in the sense: forehead, face): from Latin frōns forehead, foremost partˈfrontless