Face Definition

fās
faced, faces, facing
noun
faces
The front of the head from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin, and from ear to ear; visage; countenance.
Webster's New World
A person.
We saw many new faces on the first day of classes.
American Heritage
A person's countenance.
A happy face.
American Heritage
The expression of the countenance.
Webster's New World
The side or surface that is marked, as of a clock, playing card, domino, etc., or that is finished, as of fabric, leather, etc.
Webster's New World
verb
faced, faces, facing
To occupy a position with the face toward.
Stood and faced the audience.
American Heritage
To pivot in a specified direction: usually in the form of a command.
Right face!
Webster's New World
To front on.
A window that faces the south.
American Heritage
To meet or confront squarely or face to face.
Webster's New World
To confront with boldness, courage, etc.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
idiom
face the music
  • To accept the unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions.
American Heritage
in the face
  • In opposition to or defiance of.
American Heritage
on the face of it
  • From appearances alone; apparently:

    On the face of it, the problem seems minor.

American Heritage
show (one's) face
  • To make an appearance:

    Don't show your face on my property again.

American Heritage
to (one's) face
  • In the view or hearing of:

    insulted me to my face.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Face

Noun

Singular:
face
Plural:
faces

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Face

Origin of Face

  • Replaced native Middle English onlete (“face, countenance, appearance”), from Old English anwlite; compare Old English ansīen (“face”), Middle English neb (“face, nose”) (from Old English nebb), Middle English ler, leor, leer (“face, cheek, countenance”) (from Old English hlēor), and non-native Middle English vis (“face, appearance, look”) (from Old French vis).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English face, from Anglo-Norman face and Old French face (Modern French face), from Vulgar Latin *facia, from Latin facies (“form, appearance”), from facere (“to make, do”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Vulgar Latin facia from Latin faciēs dhē- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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