# front

Pronunciation: say "FRUNT" /fɹʌnt/

## Noun

1. The part or side of something that faces forward or comes first, such as the leading end of a vehicle, a building's entrance side, or a book's opening pages.
   - Simple: The part or side of something that faces forward or comes first, like a building's entrance side or a book's first pages.
   - _The dented front of the truck needed a new bumper and grille._
   - _Passengers near the front of the train felt the sudden jolt first._
3. The area where opposing armies are in active combat, especially along the line where they meet.
   - Simple: The place where two armies meet and fight in a war.
   - _Fresh troops moved up to the front before dawn._
   - _The general inspected conditions along the eastern front._
4. A particular sphere of activity or effort, considered as one area among several.
   - Simple: A particular area of work, effort, or activity.
   - _On the financial front, the company reported steady gains._
   - _Progress on the research front has been slow but steady._
5. The most prominent or conspicuous position, where something stands out most.
   - Simple: The most noticeable or important part of something.
   - _Climate policy moved to the front of the national agenda._
   - _New evidence pushed the case back to the front of public attention._
6. The transition zone between two air masses of different density and temperature, often producing precipitation where they meet.
   - Simple: The line where two masses of air with different temperatures meet, often bringing rain.
   - _Forecasters tracked the front as it swept across the plains._
   - _A warm front usually brings steady rain ahead of clearing skies._
7. A person or organization that serves as the public face concealing another person, group, or secret activity, often an illegal one.
   - Simple: A person or business used to hide someone else or a secret activity.
   - _The charity turned out to be a front for money laundering._
   - _He acted as a front for investors who wished to stay anonymous._
8. A deliberate, false impression of oneself; an act or façade put on to mislead others. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A false way of acting that hides how you really feel or who you really are.
   - _He kept up a confident front throughout the difficult negotiations._
   - _Behind that tough front, she was deeply anxious about the result._
11. A coastal promenade or the open ground along a town's seafront. *(UK)*
   - Simple: The paved path or open area along the edge of the sea in a town.
   - _Brighton's front bustles with day-trippers all summer long._
   - _They opened a little café on the front overlooking the bay._
18. A decorative metal covering worn over the front teeth; a grill. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A piece of metal jewelry worn over the front teeth.
   - _The rapper's gold front gleamed under the stage lights._
   - _The rapper flashed his diamond fronts at the camera._

## Adjective

2. Situated at or near the forward part of something, rather than the back.
   - Simple: Being at or near the part that faces forward.
   - _The front wheels lost traction on the icy road._
   - _Guests in the front rows could hear every whispered line._
19. Of a vowel, produced with the highest part of the tongue pushed toward the front of the mouth, near the hard palate.
   - Simple: Made with the tongue raised toward the front of the mouth, used to describe certain vowel sounds.
   - _Linguists classify the vowel in 'beat' as a front vowel._
   - _In many languages, front vowels trigger softening of nearby consonants._

## Verb

9. To lead or act as the public spokesperson for a campaign, organization, or group.
   - Simple: To lead a group or speak for it in public.
   - _He was chosen to front the new safety initiative._
   - _She fronts a band and writes most of their songs._
10. To provide money or financial assistance to someone in advance, ahead of repayment. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To give someone money in advance, before it is paid back.
   - _The studio agreed to front the director the budget for early filming._
   - _A local investor fronted them the startup costs._
12. To face or be positioned directly opposite something, looking out upon it.
   - Simple: To face or look out toward something across from it.
   - _The grand houses front the river along the old quay._
   - _A row of shops fronts the central square._
13. To serve as a cover for another person or group, concealing who is really in control. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To act as a cover for another person or group, hiding who is really responsible.
   - _The company existed only to front for investors who wanted to stay hidden._
   - _She refused to front for the people running the scam._
14. To put on a false or misleading appearance in order to impress or deceive others. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To pretend to be something you are not, to impress or fool people.
   - _Teenagers often front to seem tougher than they really are._
   - _He was only fronting because he felt insecure around the older guys._
15. To meet someone or something head-on; to face up to and confront directly.
   - Simple: To meet a problem or person head-on instead of avoiding them.
   - _The minister was forced to front reporters over the scandal._
   - _She fronted the board and defended her decision._
16. To decorate the front of something with an ornament, or to place something on its front.
   - Simple: To decorate the front of something, or to add something to its front.
   - _The architects fronted the hall with a row of stone arches._
   - _Builders front the new homes with brick to match the older street._
17. To behave in a cocky, aggressive way, or to confront someone. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To act tough and aggressive, or to challenge someone directly.
   - _They love to front whenever they feel disrespected._
   - _She fronted him in front of everyone, daring him to respond._

## Interjection

20. Used to summon a worker on duty, such as a bellhop, to come and assist.
   - Simple: Called out to summon a hotel worker, such as a bellhop, to come and help.
   - _The desk clerk barked “Front!” and the nearest porter sprang into action._
   - _“Front!” came the cry, summoning a bellhop to carry the guest's luggage._

## Noun

21. The shameless, disrespectful boldness of someone who speaks or acts without regard for what is proper. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A bold, rude kind of confidence that lets someone act without any shame.
   - _The new clerk had the front to correct his manager's grammar during the board meeting._
   - _The salesman never lacked front: he overcharged a customer and then asked her for a referral._

## Other meanings

- (noun) In military use, the width of ground occupied by a unit, measured from one flank to the other.
- (verb) To pronounce a sound with the tongue positioned toward the front of the mouth.
- (verb) To move a word or clause to the start of a sentence, as in certain emphatic or grammatical constructions.
- (adjective) Of a futures contract or its expiry time, nearest to expiration: the first contract due to expire.
- (verb) Of an alter in a person with multiplicity, to be the member of the system currently presenting and in control of the body.
- (noun) A large Soviet army formation, roughly equal to an army group and made up of several armies.
- (noun) Either of the breasts on a female body.
- (noun) A hairpiece that women once wore over the forehead to add curls or fullness.
- (noun) The brow above the eyes, or at times the entire face.
- (noun) The hotel bellhop next in line to answer a guest's call, often summoned by the desk clerk calling out this word.
- (verb) To appear before a person or body, such as a court.

## Origin

Latin frōns, frontem ("forehead") passed through Old French front into Middle English as front. Frons is a doublet.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/front (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).