frontal
UK /ˈfɹʌn.təl/ · US /ˈfɹʌn.tl̩/ adjective, noun
Forms frontals
- adjective Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
- adjective Directed against the front or at the main point or issue. “a frontal attack”
- adjective (anatomy) Of or relating to the forehead or frontal bone.
- adjective (anatomy) Parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane.
- adjective (zootomy) 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.
- adjective (meteorology) Of or relating to a weather front.
- noun (Christianity) A decorative drapery covering the front of an altar.
- noun (architecture) The façade of a building.
Synonyms
direct antependium forecloth frontlet facade frontage head-on
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.
From Middle English frountel, from Old French frontel, from Latin frontāle (“a frontlet, metal band for the forehead”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Belonging to the front part; being in front; esp. (Anat.),
- adjective Of or pertaining to the forehead or the anterior part of the roof of the brain case; as, the frontal bones.
- noun Something worn on the forehead or face; a frontlet; as: (a) An ornamental band for the hair.
- noun A little pediment over a door or window.
Etymology [Cf. F. frontal.]
Etymology [F. frontal, fronteau, OF. Frontel, frontal, L. frontale an ornament for the forehead, frontlet. See Front.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “frontal”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details