face
• noun 1 the front part of a person’s head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal. 2 an expression on someone’s face. 3 the surface of a thing, especially one presented to the view or with a particular function. 4 a vertical or sloping side of a mountain or cliff. 5 an aspect: the unacceptable face of social drinking. • verb 1 be positioned with the face or front towards or in a specified direction. 2 confront and deal with. 3 have (a difficult event or situation) in prospect. 4 (face off) chiefly N. Amer. take up an attitude of confrontation. 5 cover the surface of (something) with a layer of a different material. — PHRASES someone’s face fits Brit. someone has the necessary qualities for something. face the music be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one’s actions. face to face close together and looking directly at one another. in the face of when confronted with. lose (or save) face incur (or avoid) humiliation. on the face of it apparently. set one’s face against resist with determination. to one’s face openly in one’s presence. — DERIVATIVES -faced adjective. — ORIGIN Old French, from Latin facies ‘form, appearance, face’.
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