face Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Face noun
Etymology
F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see Fact); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. Facetious.
Definitions
  1. 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.
    A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. Gen. ii. 6.
    Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron.
  2. 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.
  3. (Mach.) (a) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object. (b) That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line. (c) 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.
  4. (Print.) (a) The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc. (b) The style or cut of a type or font of type.
  5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired.
    To set a face upon their own malignant design. Milton.
    This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison.
    We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. Wordsworth.
  6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance.
    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.
  7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance.
    We set the best faceon it we could. Dryden.
  8. (Astrol.) Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. Chaucer.
  9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery.
    This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. Tillotson.
  10. 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 presenceof.
  11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases.
    The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Num. vi. 25.
    My face [favor] will I turn also from them. Ezek. vii. 22.
  12. (Mining) The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done.
  13. (Com.) The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount. = face value McElrath. ✍ Face is used either adjectively or as part of a compound; as, face guard or face-guard; face cloth; face plan or face-plan; face hammer. face value = face, 13. Also used metaphorically, = apparent value: "Take at its face value"
Face transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Faced ; present participle & verbal noun Facing
Definitions
  1. 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 battale.
    I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.
  2. To Confront impudently; to bully.
    I will neither be facednor braved. Shak.
  3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park.
    He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. Milton.
  4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble.
  5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress.
  6. 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.
  7. (Mach.) 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.
  8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction.
Face intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. "To lie, to face, to forge." Spenser.
  2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.
    Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.
  3. To present a face or front.

Webster 1913