Synonyms: border, limit, edge, bound More Synonyms of frontier
2. countable noun
When you are talking about the western part of America before the twentieth century, you use frontier to refer to the area beyond the part settled by Europeans.
Thefrontiers of something, especially knowledge, are the limits to which it extends.
...pushing back the frontiers of science. [+ of]
...technological frontiers.
frontier in British English
(ˈfrʌntɪə, frʌnˈtɪə)
noun
1.
a.
the region of a country bordering on another or a line, barrier, etc, marking such a boundary
b.
(as modifier)
a frontier post
2. US and Canadian
a.
the edge of the settled area of a country
b.
(as modifier)
the frontier spirit
3. (often plural)
the limit of knowledge in a particular field
the frontiers of physics have been pushed back
Word origin
C14: from Old French frontiere, from front (in the sense: part which is opposite); see front
frontier in American English
(frʌnˈtɪr; also frɑnˈtɪr)
noun
1.
the border between two countries
2. US
a.
that part of a settled, civilized country which lies next to an unexplored or undeveloped region
b.
the developing, often still uncivilized or lawless, region of a country
3.
any new field of learning, thought, etc. or any part of a field that is still incompletely investigated
often used in pl.
the frontiers of medicine
adjective
4.
of, on, or near a frontier
Word origin
ME frontere < OFr frontier < front: see front1
Examples of 'frontier' in a sentence
frontier
This is bleak and beautiful frontier country.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They live and work in frontier regions.
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
They came here last month with one last frontier to cross.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The lead time of science at the frontiers of knowledge can be very long.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
People in the frontier region are known for their beauty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Is time right to cross the investment frontier?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Powers has always been adept at exploring the problematic frontiers of contemporary science.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Entering this quarter was like crossing an international frontier.
Kennedy, Douglas In God's Country: travels in the Bible belt, USA. (1989)
Ingenious plots hovered on the frontier of science fiction with a touch of ghost story.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They also say that it is a fresh one and that they are writing at the frontiers of behavioural science.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That's commitment to the frontiers of knowledge for you.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It might have been American frontier country.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
Up to $1bn of oil sales is thought to have crossed this frontier so far.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They say the French have crossed the frontier.
William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837)
There is deep resentment of the war in the frontier regions, where high unemployment feeds the discontent.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is the new frontier, a country that has suffered and wants to be a part of it all.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So that's another frontier crossed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I'm trying to push the frontiers of knowledge.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Universities do all this but only in addition to our main purpose - to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to pass on that wisdom.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Strange things, it emerges, once happened here in frontier country.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
With railways designed to service their frontier regions, German army leave arrangements also worked well.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And for all the country 's frontier wildness, the human elements are similarly ancient.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
When his train crossed the Italian frontier he was welcomed with flowers, tears and applause.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
In other languages
frontier
British English: frontier /ˈfrʌntɪə; frʌnˈtɪə/ NOUN
A frontier is a border between two countries.
American English: frontier
Arabic: حُدُود
Brazilian Portuguese: fronteira
Chinese: 国境
Croatian: granica
Czech: pohraničí
Danish: grænse
Dutch: grensgebied
European Spanish: frontera
Finnish: raja rajaseutu
French: frontière
German: Grenze Land
Greek: σύνορο
Italian: frontiera
Japanese: 国境
Korean: 국경
Norwegian: grense
Polish: granica państwa
European Portuguese: fronteira
Romanian: frontieră
Russian: граница
Latin American Spanish: frontera
Swedish: gräns
Thai: เขตพรมแดน
Turkish: cephe
Ukrainian: кордон
Vietnamese: tiền tuyến
All related terms of 'frontier'
frontier post
an official point where people or vehicles cross over a border between countries
efficient frontier
The efficient frontier is a method of analyzing a portfolio to discover the combination of assets that will produce the most return for risk .
frontier dispute
a conflict concerning a frontier between countries and which usually involves those countries
frontier orbital
the highest-energy occupied orbital or lowest-energy unoccupied orbital in a molecule . Such orbitals have a large influence on chemical properties
frontier technology
innovative or new technology
North-West Frontier
the area roughly equivalent to the present North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan , which is the days of the British Raj was regarded as one of the most remote and dangerous outposts of the British Empire
North East Frontier Agency
a state in NE India , formed in 1986 from the former Union Territory . Capital: Itanagar. Pop: 1 091 117 (2001). Area: 83 743 sq km (32 648 sq miles)
North-West Frontier Province
a province in N Pakistan between Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir : part of British India from 1901 until 1947; of strategic importance , esp for the Khyber Pass. Capital: Peshawar . Pop: 20 170 000 (2003 est). Area: 74 522 sq km (28 773 sq miles)
Chinese translation of 'frontier'
frontier
(ˈfrʌntɪəʳ)
n(c)
(Brit, between countries) 国(國)界 (guójiè)
美 = border
(fig) 界限 (jièxiàn)
(noun)
Definition
the region of a country bordering on another or a line marking such a boundary
It wasn't difficult to cross the frontier.
Synonyms
border
Clifford is enjoying life north of the border.
limit
the city limits
edge
She was standing at the water's edge.
bound
boundary
Our organization now operates across national boundaries.
confines
verge (British)
The car pulled over on to the verge off the road.
perimeter
They walked round the perimeter of the stadium.
borderline
the borderline between painting and photography
dividing line
borderland
marches
Additional synonyms
in the sense of borderline
Definition
a dividing line
the borderline between painting and photography
Synonyms
dividing line,
divide,
boundary,
cut-off point,
line of demarcation
in the sense of boundary
Definition
something that indicates the farthest limit, such as of an area
Our organization now operates across national boundaries.