I. ˌfrən.ˈti(ə)r, -ˈtiə, ˈ ̷ ̷.ˌ ̷ ̷ also frän.ˈ- or ˈfrän.ˌ- sometimes _frən.ˈ-, chiefly Brit ˈ ̷ ̷._tiə(r or ˈ ̷ ̷._tyə(r noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English frounter, fronter, from Middle French frontiere, from front — more at front
1.
a.
(1) : a part of a country that fronts or faces another country
the inhabitants of the frontier between Canada and the U.S.
specifically : a demarcated boundary between countries
crossed the frontier into Mexico
(2) : a boundary between territorial units
lived on the edge of the river that defined the frontier between the two counties
b. obsolete : barrier , defense ; specifically : a stronghold upon a border province or frontier
2.
a. : a typically shifting or advancing zone or region especially in No. America that marks the successive limits of settlement and civilization : a zone or region that forms the margin of settled or developed territory
the frontier , where people … lead rough lives and seldom meet together for pleasure — Willa Cather
b. : an area (as of thought or investigation) that constitutes the most advanced, obscure, or unexploited field or line of inquiry with respect to a particular subject : the farthermost limits of knowledge or achievement
the latest frontiers of linguistic research
the study advances appreciably the frontier of political analysis — R.M.Goldman
progress on the atomic frontier last week — Time
work on one of the frontiers of modern science — the geology of the deeper parts of the earth's crust — W.H.Bucher
c. : a line of division between different or opposed things
the frontier of drama and melodrama is vague — T.S.Eliot
d. : a new or relatively unexploited field that offers scope for large exploitative or developmental activity
a large economic frontier right at home — T.J.Kreps
is television destined to become a great new educational frontier — Mich. Alumnus
the frontiers of the future are marketing frontiers — Bud Wilson
II. adjective
1. : situated on a frontier between countries : bordering , conterminous
all frontier garrisons were ordered withdrawn
2. : of or relating to a frontier especially in No. America : characteristic of people living on such a frontier
turning to the task with typical frontier ingenuity — R.A.Billington
the hardships of frontier life
one of the last real frontier towns
3. : advancing or pushing back the frontiers of knowledge or achievement : exploratory , pioneering
frontier research in the humanities — C.E.Odegaard
a frontier report in the field
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : border , face