Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

face       (fās)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear. A person: We saw many new faces on the first day of classes. Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige: lose face. Self-assurance; confidence: The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity. The surface presented to view; the front. A façade. Outer surface: the face of the earth. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card. The right side, as of fabric. An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock. A typeface or range of typefaces. The raised printing surface of a piece of type. A person's countenance: a happy face. A contorted facial expression; a grimace: made a face at the prospect of eating lemons. Facial cosmetics: put one's face on. Outward appearance: the modern face of the city. Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige: lose face. Self-assurance; confidence: The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity. The surface presented to view; the front. A façade. Outer surface: the face of the earth. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card. The right side, as of fabric. An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock. A typeface or range of typefaces. The raised printing surface of a piece of type. Effrontery; impudence: had the face to question my judgment. The most significant or prominent surface of an object, especially: The surface presented to view; the front. A façade. Outer surface: the face of the earth. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card. The right side, as of fabric. An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock. A typeface or range of typefaces. The raised printing surface of a piece of type. A planar surface of a geometric solid. Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal. The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing. The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography. Printing A typeface or range of typefaces. The raised printing surface of a piece of type. v.   faced, fac·ing, fac·es v.   tr. To occupy a position with the face toward: stood and faced the audience. To front on: a window that faces the south. To confront with complete awareness: had to face the facts. To overcome by confronting boldly or bravely: "What this generation must do is face its problems" (John F. Kennedy). To confront with impudence. See Synonyms at defy. To be certain to encounter; have in store: An unskilled youth faces a difficult life. To bring or to be brought face to face with: "The prospect of military conflict . . . faced us with nightmarish choices" (Henry A. Kissinger). To be certain to encounter; have in store: An unskilled youth faces a difficult life. To bring or to be brought face to face with: "The prospect of military conflict . . . faced us with nightmarish choices" (Henry A. Kissinger). To cause (troops) to change direction by giving a command. Games To turn (a playing card) so that the face is up. To furnish with a surface or cover of a different material: bronze that is faced with gold foil. To line or trim the edge of, especially with contrasting material: face a hem with lace. To treat the surface of so as to smooth. v.   intr. To be turned or placed with the front toward a specified direction. To turn the face in a specified direction. Phrasal Verb(s): face down To attain mastery over or overcome by confronting in a resolute, determined manner: face down an opponent in a debate; faced the enemy down. face off Sports To start play in ice hockey, lacrosse, and other games by releasing the puck or ball between two opposing players. face up To confront an unpleasant situation with resolution and assurance: had to face up or get out; finally faced up to the problem. Idiom(s): face the music To accept the unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions. Idiom(s): in the face/teeth of In opposition to or defiance of. Idiom(s): on the face of it From appearances alone; apparently: On the face of it, the problem seems minor. Idiom(s): show (one's) face To make an appearance: Don't show your face on my property again. Idiom(s): to (one's) face In the view or hearing of: insulted me to my face. [Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *facia, from Latin faciēs; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.] face'a·ble adj.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
face  (n.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

face
noun
1.	the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear; "he washed his face"; "I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news"
2.	the feelings expressed on a person's face; "a sad expression"; "a look of triumph"; "an angry face" [syn: expression]
3.	the general outward appearance of something; "the face of the city is changing"
4.	the striking or working surface of an implement
5.	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.	a surface forming part of the outside of an object; "he examined all sides of the crystal"; "dew dripped from the face of the leaf" [syn: side]
7.	the part of an animal corresponding to the human face
8.	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.	a contorted facial expression; "she made a grimace at the prospect" [syn: grimace]
10.	a specific size and style of type within a type family [syn: font]
11.	status in the eyes of others; "he lost face"
12.	impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty" [syn: boldness]
13.	a vertical surface of a building or cliff
verb
1.	deal with (something unpleasant) head on; "You must confront your problems"; "He faced the terrible consequences of his mistakes" [syn: confront] [ant: avoid]
2.	oppose, as in hostility or a competition; "You must confront your opponent"; "Jackson faced Smith in the boxing ring"; "The two enemies finally confronted each other" [syn: confront]
3.	be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to; "The house looks north"; "My backyard look onto the pond"; "The building faces the park" [syn: front] [ant: back]
4.	be opposite; "the facing page"; "the two sofas face each other"
5.	turn so as to face; turn the face in a certain direction; "Turn and face your partner now"
6.	present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize; "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" [syn: confront]
7.	turn so as to expose the face; "face a playing card"
8.	line the edge (of a garment) with a different material; "face the lapels of the jacket"
9.	cover the front or surface of; "The building was faced with beautiful stones"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

face

In addition to the idioms beginning with face, also see at face value; blue in the face; brave face; do an about-face; egg on one's face; feed one's face; fly in the face of; hide one's face; in someone's face; in the face of; in your face; keep a straight face; laugh out of the other side of one's mouth (face); long face; look someone in the face; lose face; make a face; on the face of it; plain as day (the nose on your face); poker face; put one's face on; red in the face; save face; set one's face against; show one's face; slap in the face; stare in the face; stuff one's face; talk one's arm off (until blue in the face); throw in someone's face; to someone's face.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

face       (fās)  Pronunciation Key  A plane surface of a geometric solid. A cube has 6 faces; a dodecahedron, 12. Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

face (fās)
n.

1. The front portion of the head, from forehead to chin.
2. Facies.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: face
Function: noun
1 a : outward appearance b : the surface or superficial reading or meaning of something (as a document or statute) that does not take into account outside information face of [the] deed reveals that she had two purposes in mind —State v. Rand, 366 Atlantic Reporter, Second Series 183 (1976)> —often used in the phrases on its face and on the face of on its face but has a discriminatory effect on women —Marcia Coyle> on the face of the amendment that it was precisely directed at public as distinguished from private destruction —O'Brien v. United States, 376 Federal Reporter, Second Series 538 (1967)>
2 : the inscribed or printed side of something (as a document); broadly : the front side of something inscribed or printed on both sides face of a stock certificate>
3 : FACE VALUE

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Rocky Face, GA Zip code(s): 30740

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Face

Face\, n. [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.]

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 presence of.

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. --McElrath.

Note: 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 ague (Med.), a form of neuralgia, characterized by acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding muscles; -- called also tic douloureux.

Face card, one of a pack of playing cards on which a human face is represented; the king, queen, or jack.

Face cloth, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse.

Face guard, a mask with windows for the eyes, worn by workman exposed to great heat, or to flying particles of metal, stone, etc., as in glass works, foundries, etc.

Face hammer, a hammer having a flat face.

Face joint (Arch.), a joint in the face of a wall or other structure.

Face mite (Zo["o]ll.), a small, elongated mite (Demdex folliculorum), parasitic in the hair follicles of the face.

Face mold, the templet or pattern by which carpenters, ect., outline the forms which are to be cut out from boards, sheet metal, ect.

Face plate. (a) (Turning) A plate attached to the spindle of a lathe, to which the work to be turned may be attached. (b) A covering plate for an object, to receive wear or shock. (c) A true plane for testing a dressed surface. --Knight.

Face wheel. (Mach.) (a) A crown wheel. (b) A Wheel whose disk face is adapted for grinding and polishing; a lap.

Cylinder face (Steam Engine), the flat part of a steam cylinder on which a slide valve moves.

Face of an anvil, its flat upper surface.

Face of a bastion (Fort.), the part between the salient and the shoulder angle.

Face of coal (Mining), the principal cleavage plane, at right angles to the stratification.

Face of a gun, the surface of metal at the muzzle.

Face of a place (Fort.), the front comprehended between the flanked angles of two neighboring bastions. --Wilhelm.

Face of a square (Mil.), one of the sides of a battalion when formed in a square.

Face of a watch, clock, compass, card etc., the dial or graduated surface on which a pointer indicates the time of day, point of the compass, etc.

Face to face. (a) In the presence of each other; as, to bring the accuser and the accused face to face. (b) Without the interposition of any body or substance. "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face." 1 --Cor. xiii. 12. (c) With the faces or finished surfaces turned inward or toward one another; vis [`a] vis; -- opposed to back to back.

To fly in the face of, to defy; to brave; to withstand.

To make a face, to distort the countenance; to make a grimace. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Face

Face\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faced; p. pr. & vb. n. Facing.]

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 battle.

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.

To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. "He faced men down." --Prior.

To face (a thing) out, to persist boldly or impudently in an assertion or in a line of conduct. "That thinks with oaths to face the matter out." --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Face

Face\, v. i. 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.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Face

means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the "face [R.V., 'presence'] of the Lord God" (Gen. 3:8; comp. Ex. 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is rendered "presence"). The "light of God's countenance" is his favour (Ps. 44:3; Dan. 9:17). "Face" signifies also anger, justice, severity (Gen. 16:6, 8; Ex. 2:15; Ps. 68:1; Rev. 6:16). To "provoke God to his face" (Isa. 65:3) is to sin against him openly. The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Dan. 6:10). To "see God's face" is to have access to him and to enjoy his favour (Ps. 17:15; 27:8). This is the privilege of holy angels (Matt. 18:10; Luke 1:19). The "face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6) is the office and person of Christ, the revealer of the glory of God (John 1:14, 18).