Definition Definition

face - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'face' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Face [ n.]
- The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator.
- That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces.
- The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object.
- That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line.
- The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end; as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face.
- The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc.
- The style or cut of a type or font of type.
- Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired.
- That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance.
- Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance.
- Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac.
- Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery.
- Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presence of.
- Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases.
- The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done.
- The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount.
2 . Face [ v. i.]
- To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite.
- To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.
- To present a face or front.
3 . Face [ v. t.]
- To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle.
- To Confront impudently; to bully.
- To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park.
- To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble.
- To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress.
- To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc.
- To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface.
- To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction.

Meaning of 'face' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . face [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the feelings expressed on a person's face
Example in sentence:
  • a look of triumph;
  • a sad expression;
  • an angry face
Meaning (2):
- a surface forming part of the outside of an object
Example in sentence:
  • dew dripped from the face of the leaf;
  • he examined all sides of the crystal;
  • they travelled across the face of the continent
Meaning (3):
- the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object)
Example in sentence:
  • he dealt the cards face down
Meaning (4):
- impudent aggressiveness
Example in sentence:
  • he had the effrontery to question my honesty;
  • I couldn't believe her boldness
Meaning (5):
- a part of a person that is used to refer to a person
Example in sentence:
  • he looked out at a roomful of faces;
  • when he returned to work he met many new faces
Meaning (6):
- status in the eyes of others
Example in sentence:
  • he lost face
Meaning (7):
- the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
Example in sentence:
  • he washed his face;
  • I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news
Meaning (8):
- a contorted facial expression
Example in sentence:
  • she made a grimace at the prospect
Meaning (9):
- the general outward appearance of something
Example in sentence:
  • the face of the city is changing
10 . face [ v]
Meaning (10):
- present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize
Example in sentence:
  • An enormous dilemma faces us;
  • He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions;
  • We confronted him with the evidence
Meaning (11):
- turn so as to expose the face
Example in sentence:
  • face a playing card
Meaning (12):
- line the edge (of a garment) with a different material
Example in sentence:
  • face the lapels of the jacket
Meaning (13):
- deal with (something unpleasant) head on
Example in sentence:
  • He faced the terrible consequences of his mistakes;
  • You must confront your problems
Meaning (14):
- oppose, as in hostility or a competition
Example in sentence:
  • Jackson faced Smith in the boxing ring;
  • The two enemies finally confronted each other;
  • You must confront your opponent
Meaning (15):
- be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
Example in sentence:
  • My backyard look onto the pond;
  • The building faces the park;
  • The house looks north
Meaning (16):
- cover the front or surface of
Example in sentence:
  • The building was faced with beautiful stones
Meaning (17):
- be opposite
Example in sentence:
  • the facing page;
  • the two sofas face each other
Meaning (18):
- turn so as to face; turn the face in a certain direction
Example in sentence:
  • Turn and face your partner now