frontˈless adjective

1. Lacking a front
2. Devoid of shame or modesty (archaic)

frontˈlessly adverb

frontˈlet noun

A band or phylactery worn on the forehead

frontogenˈesis noun (Gr genesis generation; meteorology)

The formation or intensification of a front

frontolˈysis /-is-is/ noun (Gr lysis dissolution; meteorology)

The weakening or disappearance of a front

frontˈward or frontˈwards adverb

Towards the front

frontˈways or frontˈwise adverb

With face or front forward

frontˈ-bench adjective

Sitting on a front bench in parliament, as a minister, or an opposition member of similar standing

front-benchˈer noun

front crawl noun (swimming)

The crawl stroke performed face down

front door noun

frontˈ-endˈ noun

The aspects involved in the running of an operation, eg a website, that involve interaction with the public

front-end computer or front-end processor noun

A subsidiary computer which receives and processes data before passing it to a more powerful computer for further processing

front-end load noun

An initial charge made to a person taking on a long-term savings or investment plan

front-end loaded or frontˈ-loaded adjective

front-end loading or frontˈ-loading noun

1. The taking of a large part of the total costs and commission of an investment or insurance policy out of the early payments or profits made
2. Any similar weighting of borrowing, deduction, etc towards the early stages of a financial transaction or accounting period

front-end system noun

That part of a computerized printing system which receives the matter to be printed and provides the input to the typesetter

front line noun

1. The battle positions closest to the enemy
2. The most active, exposed or dangerous position or role in any activity or situation, esp a conflict (figurative)

frontˈ-line adjective

1. Of or relating to the front line
2. Of or relating to a state bordering on another state in which there is an armed conflict, and often involved in that conflict

front-loaded see front-end loaded above.

frontˈ-loader noun

A washing machine which is loaded through a door at the front

frontˈ-loading adjective (see also front-end loading above).

frontˈman noun

1. The person who appears on television as presenter of a programme, esp a documentary programme
2. The leader of a rock band, usu the lead singer
3. A forward (football)

front man see n above.

front office noun (N American)

1. The part of an organization where the senior administrative staff work
2. The senior administrative staff of an organization

frontˈ-of-house adjective

front of (the) house noun

(in a theatre) the collective activities such as box office and programme selling carried on in direct contact with the public

frontˈ-page adjective

1. Suitable for the front page of a newspaper
2. Important

transitive verb

To print a (story) on the front page of a newspaper

frontˈ-rank adjective

Of foremost importance

frontˈ-ranker noun

front row noun (rugby)

The players in the front row of the scrum (also front-row forwards)

frontˈ-runner or frontˈrunner noun

1. (in a race) a person who runs best while leading the field or one who sets the pace for the rest of the runners
2. A person or thing that is most popular, most likely to succeed, etc, esp in some kind of competition

frontˈ-running noun

A form of insider dealing on the Stock Exchange in which traders make deals for themselves before placing customer orders that are large enough to affect prices

frontˈ-wheel drive noun

A system in which the driving power is transmitted to the front wheels of a vehicle as opposed to the rear wheels

come to the front

1. To become noticeable
2. To attain an important position

front up (informal)

To make an appearance

in front or in front of

Before