English▸ noun
1 the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal:
she was scarlet in the face and perspiring profusely.
▪ an expression shown on the face:
the happy faces of these children.
▪ an aspect of something:
the unacceptable face of social drinking.
2 the surface of a thing, especially one that is presented to the view or has a particular function.
▪ Geometry each of the surfaces of a solid:
the faces of a cube.
▪ a vertical or sloping side of a mountain or cliff:
the north face of the Eiger.
▪ the side of a planet or moon facing the observer:
we can often see the dark face of the moon by earthshine.
▪ the front of a building:
a series of loggias make up the face of the church.
▪ the plate of a clock or watch bearing the digits or hands:
a dial like the face of a clock.
▪ the distinctive side of a playing card:
she scattered a deck of cards face down.
▪ the obverse of a coin.
▸ verb
1 [with object] be positioned with the face or front towards (someone or something):
he turned to face her.
▪ [no object, with adverbial of direction] have the face or front pointing in a specified direction:
the house faces due east.
▪ [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a soldier) turn in a particular direction:
the men had faced about to the front.
2 [with object] confront and deal with or accept a difficult or unpleasant task, fact, or situation:
honesty forced her to face facts
sooner or later you must face the truth.
▪ have (a difficult situation) in prospect:
each defendant faced a maximum sentence of 10 years.
▪ (of a problem or difficult situation) present itself to and require action from (someone or something):
two other large newspaper companies reported financial results that highlight the difficulties facing the industry
if you were suddenly faced with an emergency, would you know how to cope?.
– PHRASES
face down (also face downwards)
with the face or surface turned towards the ground:
with the face or surface turned towards the ground:
he lay face down on his bed.
someone's face fits British English
someone has the necessary qualities for something:
someone has the necessary qualities for something:
if your face didn't fit they could get rid of you within twelve months.
face the music /ˌfeɪs ðə ˈmjuːzɪk 
/
be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's actions:
be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's actions:
we would later have to face the music over our bold moves.
the face of the earth
used for emphasis, to refer to the existence or disappearance of someone or something:
used for emphasis, to refer to the existence or disappearance of someone or something:
he's just disappeared off the face of the earth
the most gruelling training on the face of the earth.
face up /ˌfeɪs ˈʌp / (also face upwards)
with the face or surface turned upwards to view:
with the face or surface turned upwards to view:
place the panel face up before cutting.
get out of someone's face [usually as imperative] North American English informal
stop harassing or annoying someone:
stop harassing or annoying someone:
shut up and get out of my face.
in the face of /ɪn ðə ˈfeɪs əv / (also in face of)
when confronted with:
when confronted with:
her resolution in the face of the enemy.
▪
despite:
despite:
reform had been introduced in the face of considerable opposition.
lose face
be humiliated or come to be less highly respected:
be humiliated or come to be less highly respected:
the code of conduct required that he strike back or lose face.
make a face (British English pull a face)
produce a facial expression that shows dislike or some other negative emotion, or that is intended to be amusing:
produce a facial expression that shows dislike or some other negative emotion, or that is intended to be amusing:
he tasted the paste, made a face, and dropped his fork
Anna pulled a funny face at the girl.
off one's face informal
very drunk or under the influence of illegal drugs:
very drunk or under the influence of illegal drugs:
I had a great time going out clubbing and getting off my face.
on the face of it
without knowing all of the relevant facts; apparently:
without knowing all of the relevant facts; apparently:
on the face of it, these improvements look to be insignificant.
put a brave face on something (put a bold face on something) (mainly US English put a good face on something)
act as if something unpleasant or upsetting is not as bad as it really is:
act as if something unpleasant or upsetting is not as bad as it really is:
he was putting a brave face on it but she knew he was shattered
he tried to put a good face on the financial picture.
put one's face on informal
apply make-up to one's face:
apply make-up to one's face:
Paula spent two minutes putting on her face first thing.
save someone's face
enable someone to avoid humiliation:
enable someone to avoid humiliation:
he might be pretending to help her to save his face in front of Katarina.
– PHRASAL VERBS
face down (face someone or something down, face down someone or something) overcome someone or something by a show of determination:
he faced down persistent hecklers at a noontime rally.
– ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin facies ‘form, appearance, face’.