frontal
adjectivenounnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈfɹʌn.təl//
- United Kingdom//ˈfɹʌn.tl̩//
- Canada//ˈfɹʌn.tl̩//
- Canada//ˈfɹʌn.l̩//
Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
adjective
- 1
Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
- 2
Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front. Directed against the front or at the main point or issue.
a frontal attack
- 3
Of or relating to the forehead or frontal bone.
- 4
Parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane.
- 5
Any of the scales of a reptile that lie in the general region of the forehead, more specifically between the eyes and to the anterior of this area.
- 6
Of or relating to a weather front.
Etymology
Borrowed from New Latin frontālis, from frons (“the forehead, brow, front”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix), equivalent to front + -al; cognate of French frontal. Doublet of frontalis.
noun
- 1
Variant of frontal boneEllipsis of frontal bone.
noun
- 1
A decorative drapery covering the front of an altar.
Even the mantelpiece is adorned with a totally unfunctional tasselled valance rather like an altar frontal.
- 2
The façade of a building.
Etymology
From Middle English frountel, from Old French frontel, from Latin frontāle (“a frontlet, metal band for the forehead”).
Forms
- plural
- frontals
frontal · Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
frontier · The part of a country which borders or faces another country…Frontier · A place in the United States: An unincorporated community in…frost · A cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to…