noun | verb
faceface1 /feɪs/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable, uncountable] 1
FRONT OF YOUR HEAD the front part of your head, where your eyes, nose, and mouth are: Jodi has such a pretty face. One of the victims had scratches all over his face. A smile spread across her face.on your face You have some jam on your face. Uncle Gene had a surprised look on his face.2EXPRESSION an expression on someone’s face: We wanted to see the children’s happy faces at the birthday party.with a smile/frown etc. on your face Sally watched him with a smile on her face. Matt, stop making faces at your sister (=making expressions with his face to annoy her or be funny). You should have seen his face when I told him I was leaving the company (=used to say how angry, surprised, etc. someone looked). The kids’ faces lit up when they saw Santa Claus (=they started to smile and look happy). Darren’s face fell when I told him about the test results (=he started to look disappointed or upset). She was afraid – you could see it in her face. You’re jealous! It’s written all over your face (=very easy to see in your expression)!3in the face of something especially written in a situation where there are many problems, difficulties, or dangers: He has persisted in the face of strong opposition.4face to face a)if two people are face to face, they are very close and in front of each other: Actually, I’ve never met her face to face. “Call me.” “No, I want to talk to you face to face.” He suddenly came face to face with Stafford, whom he had been avoiding (=met him suddenly without intending to). b)in a situation where you have to accept or deal with something bad: It was the first time he’d ever come face to face with death. This brought him face to face with the limits of his authority. → see also face-to-face5PERSON a person: There were a few new faces in class (=people you have not seen before). She looked around at the sea of faces in the cafeteria. Eddie nodded to a few familiar faces (=people he knows or has seen before). The New York restaurant is always full of famous faces (=well-known people).6MOUNTAIN/CLIFF a steep high side of a mountain, cliff, etc.: Is it possible to climb the north face of Mount Rainier? We looked up and saw the climbers above us on the rock face. There is an image of Buddha carved into the cliff face.7CLOCK the front of a clock, where the numbers are: The old clock had a scratch on its face.8lose face if you lose face, you do something which makes you very embarrassed or weak so that other people respect you less: They want to negotiate a ceasefire without either side losing face.9save face if you do something to save face, you do it so that people will not lose their respect for you: Franklin compromised on the deal in order to save face.10face down/downward with the face or front toward the ground: The body was lying face down on the carpet.11face up/upward with the face or front toward the sky: She laid the cards out face upward.12on the face of it used to say that something seems true but that you think there may be other facts about it which are not yet clear: It looks, on the face of it, like a pretty minor change in the regulations.13say something to somebody’s face (also tell somebody something to their face) to say something to someone directly: I’d never say it to her face, but her hair looks terrible.14the face of something a)the nature or character of an organization, industry, system, etc., or the way it appears to people: Roosevelt’s bold policies changed the face of the nation. The advertisement tries to show the new face of an old company. Child labor is part of the unacceptable face of capitalism (=the qualities of capitalism that people think are not good). b)the general appearance of a particular place: The new shopping centers that people can walk to are part of the changing face of the suburbs.15the face of the Earth a)earth science the outside part of the Earth: It’s one of the last unexplored places on the face of the Earth. b)used to emphasize that something affects everyone on Earth: The polio vaccine lifted a terrible curse from the face of this Earth. c)used when you are emphasizing a statement: For me it is the greatest adventure on the face of the Earth.16disappear/vanish from the face of the Earth informal used to say that you do not know where someone is because you have not seen him or her in a long time, or to say that someone or something no longer exists: It was like the woman vanished from the face of the Earth for 19 years. Many animal species have now disappeared from the face of the Earth.17OUTSIDE SURFACE a)one of the outside surfaces of an object or building: There was damage to the western face of the palace. b)one of the outside surfaces of a three-dimensional geometric shape: A cube has six faces.18SPORTS the part of a racket, golf club, etc. that you use to hit the ball19MINE the part of a mine from which coal, stone, etc. is cut20in your face spoken informal behavior, remarks, etc. that are in your face are very direct and often make people feel shocked or surprised: Bingham has a real “in your face” writing style.21get in somebody’s face spoken informal to annoy someone by telling him or her what to do: I don’t need my boss getting in my face all the time and telling me how to do my job.22get out of my face spoken informal used to tell someone in an impolite way to go away because he or she is annoying you23put your face on informal to put makeup on: Jill’s still busy putting on her face.[Origin: 1200–1300 Old French, Latin facies form, face, from facere to make] → see also blow up in somebody’s face at blow up (6), do something till you’re blue in the face at blue1 (3), put on a brave face at brave1 (2), have egg on your face at egg1 (5), -faced, fly in the face of something at fly1 (18), laugh in somebody’s face at laugh1 (3), not just another/a pretty face at pretty2 (5), show your face at show1 (18), shut your mouth/trap/face! at shut1 (3), a slap in the face at slap2 (2), be staring somebody in the face at stare1 (2), a straight face at straight2 (6), what’s-her-face at what's-her-name, what’s-his-face at what's-his-name, wipe the smile/grin off somebody’s face at wipe1 (6), have something written all over your face at write (8)COLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2adjectivesa pretty/beautiful face (=used especially about women) Her face was beautiful in the morning light.a handsome face (=used about boys and men) He was a dark-haired man with a handsome face.a round/oval/square/heart-shaped face His face was round and happy.a thin/narrow face Tears rolled down her thin face.a pale face (=with very light skin, or white because of fear or illness) His face suddenly became pale and I thought he was going to faint.a dark face (=with dark skin) His dark face was sad and serious.a red face (=because of being hot or embarrassed) Tara looked at me with a red face and said, “I’m sorry!”a sad/serious face The child’s sad face appeared at the window, waving goodbye.a happy/smiling face The children’s faces were happy as they ran out to play.an angry face Beth’s face was angry as she stared at her husband.a worried/anxious face My father watched us go with a worried face.a puzzled face His face was puzzled as he looked at her.a blank/impassive face (=showing no emotion or thoughts) What was she really thinking behind that blank face?a wrinkled/lined face (=with a lot of small lines, especially because of old age) His wrinkled face must once have been handsome.a scowling face (=one that shows you are not pleased about something) He looked around and saw his boss’s scowling face behind him.a long face (=an unhappy expression) What’s the long face for?verbssomebody’s face turns red/pale/angry etc. (also somebody’s face goes red/pale/angry etc.) (=becomes red, pale, angry, etc.) Ben’s face turned red with embarrassment.somebody’s face lights up (=they start to look very happy) Denise’s face lit up when she heard the news.somebody’s face brightens (=they start to look happy after being sad) “I’d love to come with you,” she said, her face brightening.somebody’s face darkens (=they start to look angry or threatening) She handed him the letter and his face darkened.somebody’s face falls (=they look sad or disappointed) Her face fell when she saw who it was.pull/make a face (=change your expression to make people laugh or to show you are angry, disappointed, etc.) Here’s a funny picture of Joe pulling a face. noun | verb
faceface2 ●●● S1 W1 verb [transitive] 1DIFFICULT SITUATION if you face a difficult situation, or if a difficult situation faces you, it is going to affect you and you must deal with it: face a problem/challenge/task etc. Weber is facing the biggest challenge of his career. If found guilty, Jones could face up to 20 years in jail. The company is facing stiff competition. He has faced growing criticism of his role in the affair. He may face criminal charges.face a dilemma/decision/choice Government officials face a dilemma.be faced with something The city council is faced with the task of making budget cuts.2ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTS to accept that a difficult situation or problem exists, even though you would prefer to ignore it SYN acknowledge: We have to face the fact that we’ll be playing teams that are better than we are. Let’s face it, people change. Arts groups don’t like the funding cuts, but they have to face facts. He had to face the awful truth that there was no cure for the disease.3POINT IN A DIRECTION to be turned or pointed in a particular direction or toward someone or something: Dean turned to face me. My house faces the bay.face east/north/up/down etc. The bedroom window faces west.4OPPONENT/TEAM to play against an opponent or team in a game or competition: The Jets face the Dolphins in two weeks.5talk/deal with somebody to deal with someone who is difficult to deal with, or talk to someone who you do not want to talk to: You’re going to have to face her sooner or later. Are you ready to face the world (=deal with the ordinary problems of life)?6can’t face something if you cannot face something, you feel unable to do it because it seems too bad or difficult: I don’t want to go back to school again – I just can’t face it. She couldn’t face the thought of seeing him again.can’t face doing something Mr. MacArthur can’t face selling the store.7face the music informal to accept criticism or punishment for something you have done8be faced with stone/concrete etc. a building that is faced with stone, concrete, etc. has a layer of that material on its outside surfaceface somebody ↔ down phrasal verb to deal in a strong and confident way with someone who opposes you: Harrison successfully faced down the mob of angry workers.face off phrasal verb to fight, argue, or compete with someone, or to get into a position in which you are ready to do this: The two candidates will face off in a televised debate on Friday. → see also face-offface up to something phrasal verb to accept and deal with a difficult fact or problem: Kids need to face up to the consequences of their actions. Company leaders must face up to the fact that they have responsibilities to the environment.- disincentive
- disinclination
- disinclined
- disinfect
- disinfectant
- disinformation
- disingenuous
- disingenuously
- disinherit
- disinheritance
- disintegrate
- disintegration
- disinter
- disinterest
- disinterested
- disinterment
- disinvestment
- disjointed
- disjointedly
- disjointedness
- disjoint events
- disjunction
- disk
- disk brakes
- disk drive