Front

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
front/frʌnt/

▶noun

• 1 the side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen or used first.

  ■ the position directly ahead.

  ■ the forward-facing part of a person's body.

• 2 the foremost line or part of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached.

  ■ [often in names] an organized political group: the Patriotic Front.

• 3 Meteorology the boundary of an advancing mass of air, in particular the leading edge (warm front) or trailing edge (cold front) of the warm sector of a low-pressure system.

• 4 a particular situation or sphere of operation: good news on the jobs front.

• 5 a deceptive appearance or mode of behaviour assumed by someone to conceal truth or genuine feelings.

  ■ a person or organization serving as a cover for subversive activities.

• 6 boldness and confidence of manner.

▶adjective

• 1 of or at the front.

• 2 Phonetics (of a vowel sound) formed by raising the tongue towards the hard palate.

▶verb

• 1 have the front facing towards.

  ■ place or be placed at the front of.

• 2 provide with a front or facing.

• 3 lead or be at the forefront of.

  ■ present or host (a television or radio programme).

• 4 act as a front for.

• 5 Phonetics articulate (a vowel sound) with the tongue further forward.

• 6 (often front up) Austral./NZ make an appearance; turn up.

  ■ archaic or Austral./NZ confront.

– phrases
front of house Brit. the parts of a theatre in front of the proscenium arch.

■ the business of a theatre that concerns the audience, such as ticket sales.

in front

• 1 in a position just ahead or further forward.

• 2 on the front part or side.

• 3 (in front of) in the presence of.

out front chiefly N. Amer. at or to the front; in front.

– derivatives
frontless adjective,
frontmost adjective,
frontward adjective & adverb,
frontwards adverb.

– origin ME: from OFr. front (n.), fronter (v.), from L. frons, front- ‘forehead, front’.