Search results for 'front':

front noun 1 the side or part of anything that is furthest forward or nearest to the viewer; the most important side or part, eg the side of a building where the main door is. 2 any side of a large or historic building. 3 the part of a vehicle, etc that faces or is closest to, the direction in which it moves. 4 theat the auditorium of a theatre, etc. See also front of house. 5 the cover or first pages of a book. 6 a road or promenade in a town that runs beside the sea, or large lake, etc; sea front. 7 in war, particularly when fought on the ground: the area where the soldiers are nearest to the enemy • eastern front. See also front line. 8 a matter of concern or interest • no progress on the job front. 9 meteorol the boundary between two air masses that have different temperatures, eg a warm front is the leading edge of a mass of warm air. Also compare cold front. 10 an outward appearance. 11 (usually Front) a name given to some political movements, particularly when a number of organizations come together as a unified force against opponents. 12 slang an organization or job used to hide illegal or secret activity • The corner shop was just a front for drug dealing. 13 archaic the forehead; the face. verb (fronted, fronting) 1 tr & intr said of a building: to have its front facing or beside something specified • The house fronts on to the main road. 2 to be the leader or representative of (a group, etc). 3 to be the presenter of (a radio or television programme). 4 to cover the front of (a building, etc) • The house was fronted with grey stone. adj 1 relating to, or situated at or in the front. 2 phonetics said of a vowel: articulated with the front of the tongue in a forward position. frontless adj. in front 1 on the forward-facing side. 2 ahead. in front of someone or something 1 at or to a position in advance of them. 2 to a place towards which a vehicle, etc is moving • ran in front of a car. 3 ahead of them • pushed in front of her. 4 facing or confronting them • stood up in front of an audience. 5 in their presence • dare not say so in front of my mother. out front colloq in the audience, from the performer's standpoint. up front colloq said of money: paid before work is done or goods received, etc • Can you pay that up front?
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: French, from Latin frons, frontis forehead.