face (f?s)n.1. a. 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.b. A person: We saw many new faces on the first day of classes.2. A person’s countenance: a happy face.3. A contorted facial expression; a grimace: made a face at the prospect of eating lemons.4. a. A countenance of a certain complexion or form. Used in combination: babyface; frogface.b. A person having such a countenance. Used in combination: paleface.5. a. Facial makeup: put one’s face on.b. Facial makeup of a certain color, usually worn for the purpose of impersonating or mocking people of a particular racial or ethnic group. Used in combination: applied blackface.c. Assumed characteristics, such as clothing or behavior, intended to impersonate or mock people of a particular racial or ethnic group. Used in combination: dressing up in yellowface.6. Outward appearance: the modern face of the city.7. a. Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige: did their best to save face after they were shown to be wrong; did not want to lose face by being unable to live up to his reputation.b. Self-assurance; confidence: The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity.8. Effrontery; impudence: had the face to question my judgment.9. The most significant or prominent surface of an object, especially:a. The surface presented to view; the front.b. A façade.c. Outer surface: the face of the earth.d. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card.e. The right side, as of fabric.f. An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock.10. A planar surface of a geometric solid.11. Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.12. The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing.13. The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography.14. Printing a. A typeface or range of typefaces.b. The raised printing surface of a piece of type.v. faced, fac·ing, fac·es v.tr.1. To occupy a position with the face toward: stood and faced the audience.2. To front on: a window that faces the south.3. a. To meet or confront with self-assurance: How can I face your parents when they know that I’ve let them down?b. To acknowledge and accept or deal with: had to face the facts; must be willing to face our problems. See Synonyms at defy.4. a. To be certain to encounter; have in store: An unskilled youth faces a difficult life.b. To bring or to be brought face to face with: “The prospect of military conflict … faced us with nightmarish choices” (Henry A. Kissinger).5. To cause (troops) to change direction by giving a command.6. Games To turn (a playing card) so that the face is up.7. To furnish with a surface or cover of a different material: bronze that is faced with gold foil.8. To line or trim the edge of, especially with contrasting material: face a hem with lace.9. To treat the surface of so as to smooth.v.intr.1. To be turned or placed with the front toward a specified direction.2. To turn the face in a specified direction.Phrasal Verbs: 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 off1. Sports To stand opposite an opponent in ice hockey, lacrosse, and other games and attempt to gain control of a puck or ball released by an official at the start of play.2. To compete: Two longtime opponents faced off in a bitter election. face up To confront an unpleasant situation with resolution and assurance: had to face up or get out; finally faced up to the problem.Idioms: face the music To accept the unpleasant consequences, especially of one’s own actions. in the face/teeth of In opposition to or defiance of. on the face of it From appearances alone; apparently: On the face of it, the problem seems minor. show (one’s) face To make an appearance: Don’t show your face on my property again. 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 faci?s; see dh?- in Indo-European roots.]face?a·ble adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.face (fe?s) n1. a. the front of the head from the forehead to the lower jaw; visageb. (as modifier): face flannel; face cream. 2. a. the expression of the countenance; look: a sad face. b. a distorted expression, esp to indicate disgust; grimace: she made a face. 3. informal make-up (esp in the phrase put one’s face on)4. outward appearance: the face of the countryside is changing. 5. appearance or pretence (esp in the phrases put a bold, good, bad, etc, face on)6. worth in the eyes of others; dignity (esp in the phrases lose or save face)7. informal impudence or effrontery8. the main side of an object, building, etc, or the front: the face of a palace; a cliff face. 9. the marked surface of an instrument, esp the dial of a timepiece10. the functional or working side of an object, as of a tool or playing card11. a. the exposed area of a mine from which coal, ore, etc, may be minedb. (as modifier): face worker. 12. the uppermost part or surface: the face of the earth. 13. Also called: side any one of the plane surfaces of a crystal or other solid figure14. (Mountaineering) mountaineering a steep side of a mountain, bounded by ridges15. either of the surfaces of a coin, esp the one that bears the head of a ruler16. slang Brit a well-known or important person17. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing a. the printing surface of any type characterb. the style, the design, or sometimes the size of any type fountc. the print made from type18. (Nautical Terms) nautical aeronautics the aft or near side of a propeller blade19. fly in the face of to act in defiance of20. in one’s face directly opposite or against one21. in face of in the face of despite22. look someone in the face to look directly at a person without fear or shame23. on the face of it to all appearances24. set one’s face against to oppose with determination25. show one’s face to make an appearance26. shut one’s face slang (often imperative) to be silent27. to someone’s face in someone’s presence; directly and openly: I told him the truth to his face. 28. until one is blue in the face informal to the utmost degree; indefinitelyvb29. (when: intr, often foll by to, towards, or on) to look or be situated or placed (in a specified direction): the house faces on the square. 30. to be opposite: facing page 9. 31. (tr) to meet or be confronted by: in his work he faces many problems. 32. (tr) to accept or deal with something: let’s face it, you’re finished. 33. (tr) to provide with a surface of a different material: the cuffs were faced with velvet. 34. to dress the surface of (stone or other material)35. (Card Games) (tr) to expose (a card) with the face uppermost36. (Military) military chiefly US to order (a formation) to turn in a certain direction or (of a formation) to turn as required: right face!. 37. (Hockey (Field & Ice)) ice hockey a. (of the referee) to drop (the puck) between two opposing players, as when starting or restarting play. See also face-offb. to start or restart play in this manner38. face the music informal to confront the consequences of one’s actions[C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin facia (unattested), from Latin faci?s form, related to facere to make] ?faceable adjFACE abbreviation for Fellow of the Australian College of Education Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014face (fe?s) n., v. faced, fac?ing. n. 1. the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin. 2. a look or expression on this part: a sad face. 3. an expression or look that indicates ridicule, disgust, etc.; grimace: to make a face. 4. cosmetics; makeup: to put on one’s face. 5. impudence; boldness. 6. outward appearance. 7. outward show or pretense. 8. good reputation; dignity; prestige. 9. the amount specified in a bill or note, exclusive of interest. 10. the manifest sense or express terms, as of a document. 11. the surface: the face of the earth. 12. the side, or part of a side, upon which the use of a thing depends: the face of a playing card. 13. the most important or most frequently seen side; front. 14. the outer or upper side of a fabric; right side. 15. any of the bounding surfaces of a solid figure: a cube has six faces. 16. the front or end of a drift or excavation, where the material is being or was last mined. 17. a. the working surface of a printer’s type or plate, etc. b. Also called typeface. any design of type, including a full range of characters, as letters, numbers, and marks of punctuation, in all sizes. c. Also called typeface. the general style or appearance of type: broad or narrow face. 18. either of the two outer sides that form the salient of a bastion. 19. any of the plane surfaces of a crystal. v.t. 20. to look toward or in the direction of: to face the light. 21. to have the front toward or permit a view of: The building faces the street. 22. to confront directly: to face the future. 23. to confront courageously or impudently (usu. fol. by down or out): facing down an opponent. 24. to oppose or to meet defiantly: to face fearful odds. 25. to cover or partly cover with a different material in front: They faced the wooden house with brick. 26. to finish the edge of (a garment) with facing. 27. to turn the face of (a playing card) upwards. 28. to dress or smooth the surface of (a stone or the like). v.i. 29. to turn or be turned: She faced toward the sea. 30. to be placed with the front in a certain direction: The barn faces south. 31. to turn to the right, left, or in the opposite direction: Left face! 32. face off, a. Ice Hockey. to start play, as to begin a game or period, with a face-off. b. to confront, as in a contest. 33. face up to, a. to admit. b. to meet courageously; confront. Idioms: 1. face the music, to accept the consequences of one’s actions. 2. in (or out of) someone’s face, Slang. annoying (or ceasing to annoy) someone: You’re always in my face! 3. in the face of, a. in spite of; notwithstanding. b. when confronted with. 4. lose face, to suffer humiliation. 5. on the face of it, according to appearances; seemingly. 6. save face, to escape from humiliation. 7. show one’s face, to be seen; make an appearance. 8. to one’s face, in one’s very presence; in direct confrontation. [1250?1300; Middle English