Definition of "front" in English

noun

The foremost side of something or the end that faces the direction it normally moves.
The side of a building with the main entrance.
A field of activity.
A person or institution acting as the public face of some other, covert group.
- Near-synonyms: frontperson, frontman, front man
- Officially it's a dry-cleaning shop, but everyone knows it's a front for the mafia.
(meteorology) The interface or transition zone between two airmasses of different density, often resulting in precipitation. Since the temperature distribution is the most important regulator of atmospheric density, a front almost invariably separates airmasses of different temperature.
- We need to take the clothes off the line. The news reported a front is coming in from the east, and we can expect heavy rain and maybe hail.
(military) An area where armies are engaged in conflict, especially the line of contact.
(military) The lateral space occupied by an element measured from the extremity of one flank to the extremity of the other flank.
(military) The direction of the enemy.
(military) When a combat situation does not exist or is not assumed, the direction toward which the command is faced.
(historical) A major military subdivision of the Soviet Army.
(dated) Cheek; boldness; impudence.
(dated, euphemistic, chiefly in the plural) A woman's breast.
(informal) An act, show, façade, persona: an intentional and false impression of oneself.
- He says he likes hip-hop, but I think it's just a front.
- You don't need to put on a front. Just be yourself.
(historical) That which covers the foremost part of the head: a front piece of false hair worn by women.
The most conspicuous part.
The beginning.
(UK) A seafront or coastal promenade.
(obsolete) The forehead or brow, the part of the face above the eyes; sometimes, also, the whole face.
(slang, hotels, dated) The bellhop whose turn it is to answer a client's call, which is often the word "front" used as an exclamation.
(slang, in the plural) A grill (jewellery worn on front teeth).

adjective

Located at or near the front.
- The front runner was thirty meters ahead of her nearest competitor.
(comparable, phonetics) Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the front of the mouth, near the hard palate (most often describing a vowel).

verb

(intransitive, dated) To face (on, to); to be pointed in a given direction.
- The palazzo has always fronted on a bus stop—but this putative man of the people has kindly put an end to that public service.
(transitive) To face, be opposite to.
(transitive) To face up to, to meet head-on, to confront.
(transitive) To adorn with, at the front; to put on the front.
(phonetics, transitive, intransitive) To pronounce with the tongue in a front position.
(linguistics, transitive) To move (a word or clause) to the start of a sentence (or series of adjectives, etc).
(intransitive, slang) To act as a front (for); to cover (for).
(transitive) To lead or be the spokesperson of (a campaign, organisation etc.).
(ambitransitive, multiplicity) Of an alter in a person with multiplicity (especially in dissociative identity disorder): to be the currently actively presenting member of (a system), in control of the person's body.
(transitive, colloquial) To provide money or financial assistance in advance to.
(intransitive, slang) To assume false or disingenuous appearances.
- Boy don't try to front, / I-I know just-just what you are, are-are.
(transitive, slang) To deceive or attempt to deceive someone with false or disingenuous appearances (on).
(transitive) To appear before.
- to front court
(transitive or intransitive, slang, African-American Vernacular) To act cocky, disrespectful and aggressive; to confront (someone).