26984 words

fronts

42 definitions • 68 examples
1
the part of a building, object, or person's body that faces forward or is most often seen or used:

Examples:

The front of the museum is very impressive.
He spilled soup all down the front of his shirt.
He was lying on his front.
The actor walked out to the front of the stage.
2
the part of a vehicle that is nearest to its direction of movement:

Examples:

in the front Do you want to sit in the front (= next to the driver)?
If we sit near the front of the bus, we'll have a better view.
3
the outside part or cover of a book, newspaper, or magazine:

Examples:

on the front There was a picture of the Trevi fountain on the front of the book.
4
one of the first pages in a book:

Examples:

in the front There's an inscription in the front of the book.
5
further forward than someone or something else:

Examples:

The car in front suddenly stopped and I slammed on the brakes.
6

Examples:

By half time the Italians were well in front.
7
close to the front part of something:

Examples:

There's parking space in front of the hotel.
8
where someone can see or hear you:

Examples:

Please don't swear in front of the children.
9
If you give someone an amount of money up front, you pay that person before they do something for you:

Examples:

He wants all the money up front or he won't do the job.
10

Examples:

on the work front How are things on the work front? (= Is the situation at work satisfactory?)
She's very creative on the design front (= she is very good at design).
11
the character or qualities that a person or organization appears to have in public that are different from their real character or qualities, and whose purpose is often to deceive people or hide an illegal activity:

Examples:

Don't be fooled by his kindness and sensitivity - it's just a front.
She presents such a cheerful front that you'd never guess she's ill.
The machinery company was a front operation for arms smuggling.
front for Several trading companies were set up in the early 1960s to act as fronts for money-laundering operations.
12
land near the sea or a lake, or the part of a town near the beach that often has a wide road or path along it:

Examples:

Let's go for a stroll along the front.
The company specializes in building lake-front property.
13
the place where two masses of air that have different temperatures meet:

Examples:

cold front A cold front is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms this weekend.
warm front A warm front is approaching from the west.
The warm spell is being caused by a weather front coming in from the Atlantic.
14
the place where fighting takes place in a war:

Examples:

He was a soldier on the Western front in World War I.
15
in or at the front of something:

Examples:

One of his front teeth is missing.
I'd like seats on the front row.
a dog's front paws
16
If a building or area fronts a particular place or fronts onto it, it is near it and faces it:

Examples:

All the apartments front onto the sea.
17

Examples:

She fronts a large IT company.
18
If a building is fronted with something, its surface is covered with it:

Examples:

The kitchen has oak cabinets fronted with glass.
19
In basketball, if a player fronts an opposing player, they stand in front of them, between the opposing player and another opposing player who has the ball, rather than between the player and the basket:

Examples:

The forwards played man-to-man, fronting the post players.
The Wildcats often defend the low post by fronting players.
20
a group of people sharing a political belief who perform actions in public to achieve their aims:

Examples:

The National Front is an extremely right-wing political party in Britain.
21
the most forward position or most important side of an object or surface:

Examples:

The front of the house faces Peach Street.
My little boy can’t eat ice cream without most of it dripping down the front of his shirt.
You’ll find the date of publication in the front of the book.
I like to sit near the front of the plane so that I can be among the first to get off.
Do you want me to lie on my front (= the side of my body that faces forward) or on my back?
Would you like me to sit in the front (= most forward seat) or the back of the car?
Dad pushed Matthew in the stroller while David and Stephen walked in front (= farther forward than the others) .
22
in a position close to the most forward or most important part:

Examples:

They chatted for a while in front of the apartment house.
23
Someone who is in front of someone else is in a position directly forward of that person:

Examples:

Carla and Bob were sitting in front of me at the movie.
24

Examples:

Now let’s take a look at news on the health front.
I’m not having much luck on the job front.
25
During a war, a front is a particular place of directed military activity.
26
an appearance that a person chooses to show to others instead of showing his or her true feelings:

Examples:

Even though he doesn’t like his in-laws, he always puts on a cheerful front when they come to visit.
27
A front can also be a person, group, or thing used to hide the real character of a secret or illegal activity:

Examples:

The society was a front for making illegal political contributions.
28
the advancing edge of a mass of cold or warm air:

Examples:

a cold/warm front
29

Examples:

30
to face or be next to something:

Examples:

[ I/T ] Houses fronting (on) the ocean are the most expensive.
31
in or at the front of something:

Examples:

I’d like seats in the front row of the balcony.
Alice designed the front cover of the book.
I always go in through the front door instead of going around to the back.
32
the part of a building that faces or is nearest to the street or that is most often seen or used:

Examples:

shop/store front The shop front occupies a very prominent position on the main street.
at the front of sth The new styles were displayed at the front of the store.
33
used to refer to a particular area of activity:

Examples:

How are things on the work front?
She's very creative on the design front.
34
behaviour that a person shows in public and that is different from their real character:

Examples:

Don't be fooled by his apparent sympathy - it's just a front.
35
a person or organization that is used to deceive people or to hide an illegal activity:

Examples:

The trading company was set up in 2001 to act as a front for money-laundering operations.
36
more successful than other people or companies doing the same job or in the same industry:

Examples:

Major brand leaders got out in front first and have set the pace for other companies.
37
if you give someone an amount of money up front, you pay them before they do something for you:

Examples:

He wants all the money up front or he won't do the job.
38
if a brand, product, or company is front of mind, it is the first one that people think of when they are considering buying something:

Examples:

We need advertising that will keep the brand front of mind and help reinforce brand values.
39
considered very important and usually thought of first by people:

Examples:

Food safety issues affect everyone and are becoming increasingly front of mind with consumers today.
40
considered very important and to be dealt with or given attention before other things:

Examples:

keep/put sth on the front burner We need to put this project on the front burner and finish it as soon as possible.
41
if a building or area fronts or fronts on or onto a particular place, it is near it and faces it:

Examples:

The store fronts the central square at the mall.
42
to lead an organization, or be the person with the main responsibility for a particular project, etc.:

Examples:

She fronts a large IT company in Germany.
They appointed him to front the takeover bid.

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