Etymology

Noun

1. The foremost side of something or the end that faces the direction it normally moves.
2. The side of a building with the main entrance.
3. A person or institution acting as the public face of some other, covert group.

   Officially it's a dry-cleaning shop, but everyone knows it's front for the mafia.

4. The interface or transition zone between two airmasses of different density, often resulting in precipitation. Since the temperature distribution is the most important regulator of atmospheric density, a front almost invariably separates airmasses of different temperature.
5. An area where armies are engaged in conflict, especially the line of contact.
6. The lateral space occupied by an element measured from the extremity of one flank to the extremity of the other flank.
7. The direction of the enemy.
8. When a combat situation does not exist or is not assumed, the direction toward which the command is faced.
9. A major military subdivision of the Soviet Army.
10. An act, show, façade, persona: an intentional and false impression of oneself.

    He says he likes hip-hop, but I think it's just a front.

    You don't need to put on a front. Just be yourself.

Adjective

1. Located at or near the front.

   The front runner was thirty meters ahead of her nearest competitor.

2. Of a vowel pronounced near the tip of the tongue.

Verb

1. To face (on, to), be pointed in a given direction.
   • 1726, Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels:

     The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet high, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep.

2. To face, be opposite to.
   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:

     [...]down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.

3. To face up to, to meet head-on, to confront.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part 2:

     What well-appointed leader fronts us here?

4. To adorn the front of; to have on the front.
   • 2001, Terry Goodkind, The Pillars of Creation, p. 148:

     Three tiers of balconies fronted with roped columns supporting arched openings looked down on the marble hall.

5. To pronounce with the tongue in a front position.
   • 2005, Paul Skandera / Peter Burleigh, A Manual of English Phonetics and Phonology, p. 48:

     The velar plosives are often fronted through the influence of a following front vowel, and retracted through the influence of a following back vowel.

6. To act as a front (for); to cover (for).
   • 2007, Harold Robbins, A Stone for Danny Fisher, p. 183:

     Everybody knew Skopas fronted for the fight mob even though he was officially the arena manager.

7. To lead or be the spokesperson of (a campaign, organisation etc.).
   • 2009 September 1, Mark Sweney, The Guardian:

     Ray Winstone is fronting a campaign for the Football Association that aims to stop pushy parents shouting abuse at their children during the grassroots football season.

8. To provide money or financial assistance in advance to.
   • 2004, Danielle Steele, Ransom, p. 104:

     I'm prepared to say that I fronted you the money for a business deal with me, and the investment paid off brilliantly.

9. To assume false or disingenuous appearances.
   • 2008, Briscoe/Akinyemi, ‘Womanizer’:

     Boy don't try to front, / I-I know just-just what you are, are-are.