I. ˈfās noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * facia, from Latin facies make, form, face, from facere to make, do — more at do
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : the front part of the head that in humans extends from the forehead to the chin and includes the mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes
b. : the face as a means of identification : countenance
would know that face anywhere
2. archaic : presence , sight
3.
a. : facial expression
a friendly face
b. : a facial expression of distaste or displeasure
he made a face when he saw the test results
c. : makeup 3a(1)
4.
a.
(1) : outward appearance
put a good face on it
(2) : the aspect of something that is perceptible or obvious upon superficial examination
the theory is absurd on its face — Kim Neely
b. : disguise , pretense
c.
(1) : assurance , confidence
maintaining a firm face in spite of adversity
(2) : effrontery
how anyone could have the face to ask that question
d. : dignity , prestige
afraid to lose face
5. : surface:
a.
(1) : a front, upper, or outer surface
(2) : the front of something having two or four sides
(3) : facade
(4) : an exposed surface of rock
(5) : any of the plane surfaces that bound a geometric solid
b. : a surface specially prepared: as
(1) : the principal dressed surface (as of a disk)
(2) : the right side (as of cloth or leather)
(3) : an inscribed, printed, or marked side
c. : a striking surface (as of a tool)
the face of the golf club
the face of an anvil
d.
(1) : the surface (as of type) that receives the ink and transfers it to the paper
(2) : a style of type
6. : the end or wall of a mine tunnel, drift, or excavation at which work is progressing
7. : face value
8. : person
lots of new face s around here
•
- in one's face
- in the face of
- to one's face
II. verb
( faced ; fac·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to confront impudently
2.
a. : to line near the edge especially with a different material
b. : to cover the front or surface of
faced the building with marble
3. : to meet face-to-face or in competition
4.
a. : to stand or sit with the face toward
b. : to have the front oriented toward
a house facing the park
5.
a. : to recognize and deal with straightforwardly
face the facts
b. : to master by confronting with determination — used with down
faced down his critics
6.
a. : to have as a prospect : be confronted by
face a grim future
b. : to be a prospect or a source of concern for
the problems that face us
c. : to bring face-to-face
he was faced with ruin
7. : to make the surface of (as a stone) flat or smooth
8. : to cause (troops) to face in a particular direction on command
intransitive verb
1. : to have the face or front turned in a specified direction
2. : to turn the face in a specified direction
•
- face the music