Definition of: face

(fās) noun
1. The anterior portion of the head, in which the eyes, nose, and mouth are situated, comprising in man the surface between the top of the forehead and the bottom of the chin, and extending laterally from ear to ear.
2. The surface, or most important surface, of anything; a front or working surface; that side or edge presented to view, or to any particular adjustment for operating; a side or surface of a solid: the face of a dam, one of the faces of a crystal, the face of a playing card, the face of a molar tooth.
3. The façade.
4. The flat portion of a propeller blade.
5. The flat or rounded striking surface of a hammer.
6. The long outer slope of a bastion; also, that part of the line of defense ending with the curtain and the angle of the shoulder.
7. Mining a The end of a drift or tunnel. b The sharply defined and more important joint in coal running at right angles to the plane of stratification.
8. Printing a The impression surface of a type body or of a printing plate. b The letter or other character cut on the type, or the size or style of the character cut on the type.
9. The dial of a clock or watch.
10. The obverse of a coin, or medal, which bears the effigy; occasionally the reverse side.
11. The inscribed side of a document, or printed side of a sheet.
12. One of the sides of any military formation, as of a square.
13. The external aspect or appearance; look; show; outward effect or impression: He put a bold face on the matter.
14. Personal force, influence, opinion, or will, as if expressed in the countenance: He set his face steadily against it.
15. Personal presence; immediate cognizance; sight: before the face of, to one's face.
16. Colloq. Effrontery; audacity; assurance.
17. The value as expressed on the written or printed surface: said of any commercial paper, as a note or bond.
18. In golf, the striking side of a club head; the side or slope of a hillock or bunker.
—in the face of
1. In the presence of; confronting.
2. In opposition to; in defiance of; in spite of.
—to save face To save one's reputation or standing; protect one's dignity in the opinion of others.
—to lose face To lose standing or reputation.
—to make faces To grimace.
—v. faced, fac·ing v.t.
1. To bear or turn the face toward; front upon: The house faces the street.
2. To cause to turn in a given direction, as soldiers.
3. To meet face to face; confront, as with courage or boldness: to face great odds.
4. To realize or be aware of: to face facts.
5. To cover with a layer or surface of another material: to face brick with stucco or a garment with silk.
6. To make smooth the surface of; dress: to face stone.
7. To turn face upward, as a playing card.
—v.i.
8. To be turned or placed with the face in a given direction: The house faces west.
9. To turn in a given direction: The soldiers faced right. See synonyms under OPPOSE.
—to face down To abash or disconcert by a bold stare or audacious manner.
—to face out To see to completion or endure, as by a persevering manner.
—to face the music U.S. Slang To accept the consequences.
—to face up to
1. To meet with courage; confront.
2. To realize: become aware of. [<F, ult. <L facies a face]
—face′a·ble adjective