EnglishMain Dictionary
front
Universal Words
noun, adjective, verb
noun
forward part / position
1 [C,usually sing.] (usually the front) the part or side of sth that faces forward; the side of sth that you look at first:
The front of the building was covered with ivy. * The book has a picture of Rome on the front. * The front of the car was badly damaged.
seealsoSHOPFRONT, Y-FRONTS
2 (the front) [sing.] the position that is in the direction that sb/sth is facing:
Keep your eyes to the front and walk straight ahead. * There's a garden at the front of the house.
3 (the front) [sing.] the part of sth that is furthest forward:
I prefer to travel in the front of the car (= next to the driver). * The teacher made me move my seat to the front of the classroom. * Write your name in the front of the book (= the first few pages).
chest
4 (sb's front) [sing.] the part of sb's body that faces forwards; sb's chest:
She was lying on her front. * I spilled coffee down my front.
side of building
5 [C] the west, north, south, east, etc. ~ the side of a large building, especially a church, that faces west, north, etc:
the west front of the cathedral
edge of sea / lake
6 (the front) [sing.] (BrE) the road or area of land along the edge of the sea, a lake or a river:
Couples walked hand in hand along the front.
seealsoSEAFRONT
in war
7 [C,usually sing.] an area where fighting takes place during a war:
More British troops have been sent to the front. * to serve at the front * fighting a war on two fronts * Reports from the battle fronts became briefer and vaguer.
seealsoFRONTLINE, HOMEFRONT
area of activity
8 [C] a particular area of activity:
Things are looking unsettled on the economic front. * Progress has been made on all fronts.
hiding true feelings
9 [sing.] behaviour that is not genuine, done in order to hide your true feelings or opinions:
Rudeness is just a front for her shyness. * It's not always easy putting on a brave front for the family. * The prime minister stressed the need to present a united front (= show people that all members of the group have the same opinion about things).
hiding sth illegal
10 [C,usually sing.] ~ (for sth) a person or an organization that is used to hide an illegal or secret activity:
The travel company is just a front for drug trafficking.
political organization
11 (Front) [sing.] used in the names of some political organizations:
the Animal Liberation Front
seealsoPOPULARFRONT
weather
12 [C] the line where a mass of cold air meets a mass of warm air:
a cold / warm front
IDIOMS
front and center (AmE) in or into the most important position:
The issue has moved front and center in his presidential campaign.
in front adverb
1 in a position that is further forward than sb/sth but not very far away:
Their house is the one with the big garden in front.
2 in first place in a race or competition:
The blue team is currently in front with a lead of six points.
in front of preposition
1 in a position that is further forward than sb/sth but not very far away:
The car in front of me stopped suddenly and I had to brake. * The bus stops right in front of our house. * He was standing in front of me in the line. * She spends all day sitting in front of (= working at) her computer. * She is now entitled to put 'Professor' in front of her name.
2 if you do sth in front of sb, you do it when they are there:
Please don't talk about it in front of the children.
3 ~ sb (of time) still to come; not yet passed:
Don't give up. You still have your whole life in front of you.
out front
1 in the part of a theatre, restaurant, etc. where the public sits:
There's only a small audience out front tonight. * He cooked while she sat out front and waited tables.
2 (also BrE informal out the front) in the area near to the entrance to a building:
I'll wait for you out (the) front.
up front (informal)
1 as payment in advance:
We'll pay you half up front and the other half when you've finished the job.
2 (in football) in a forward position:
to play up front
seealsoUPFRONT
moreatBACKn., CASHn., LEADv.
adjective [onlybeforenoun] on or at the front of sth:
the front page of the newspaper * front teeth * the front wheels of the car * We had seats in the front row. * an animal's front legs * Let's go through to the front room (= the main room in a house where people sit and entertain guests). * a front-seat passenger
compareBACK, HINDadj.
IDIOMS
on the front burner (informal, especially AmE) (of an issue, a plan, etc.) being given a lot of attention because it is considered important:
Anything that keeps education on the front burner is good.
compareon the back burner at BACKadj.
verb
face sth
1 ~ (onto sth) to face sth or be in front of sth; to have the front pointing towards sth:
[VN] The cathedral fronts the city's main square. * [V] The line of houses fronted straight onto the road.
cover front
2 [VN] [usuallypassive] to have the front covered with sth:
a glass-fronted bookcase
lead group
3 [VN] to lead or represent an organization, a group, etc:
He fronts a multinational company. * A former art student fronted the band (= was the main singer).
present tv programme
4 [VN] (BrE) to present a television programme, a show, etc:
The former footballer will front a new television sports quiz.
PHRASALVERBS
front for sb/sth to represent a group or an organization and try to hide its secret or illegal activities:
He fronted for them in several illegal property deals.
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WHICHWORD?
in front of / in the front of
In front of can mean the same as outside but not opposite: I'll meet you in front of/outside your hotel. * There's a bus stop in front of the house (= on the same side of the road). * There's a bus stop opposite the house (= on the other side of the road).
In/at the front (of sth) means 'in the most forward part of something': The driver sits at the front of the bus. * Put the shortest flowers in the front (of the bunch).
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