2 → see also full-frontal
fro nt be nch (front benches ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] In Britain, the front bench or people who sit on the front bench are members of Parliament who are ministers in the Government or who hold official positions in an opposition party. □ Some of the Government front bench still believe our relationship with the U.S. is paramount.
front|bencher /frʌ ntbe ntʃə r / (frontbenchers ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a frontbencher is a member of Parliament who is a minister in the Government or who holds an official position in an opposition party.
fro nt burn|er N‑SING [usu on the N ] If an issue is on the front burner , it receives a lot of attention because it is considered to be more urgent or important than other issues. □ It helps to put an important issue back on the front burner.
fro nt doo r (front doors ) N‑COUNT The front door of a house or other building is the main door, which is usually in the wall that faces a street.
fron|tier /frʌ nt I ə r , -t I ə r / (frontiers )
1 N‑COUNT A frontier is a border between two countries. [BRIT ] □ It wasn't difficult then to cross the frontier. in AM, usually use border 2 N‑COUNT 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. □ …a far-flung outpost on the frontier.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl, adj N ] The frontiers of something, especially knowledge, are the limits to which it extends. □ [+ of ] …pushing back the frontiers of science. □ …technological frontiers.
fron|tis|piece /frʌ nt I spiːs/ (frontispieces ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The frontispiece of a book is a picture at the beginning, opposite the page with the title on.
fro nt li ne (front lines ) also front-line
1 N‑COUNT The front line is the place where two opposing armies are facing each other and where fighting is going on. □ …a massive concentration of soldiers on the front line.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A front line state shares a border with a country that it is at war with or is in conflict with. □ …the front-line states bordering South Africa.
3 PHRASE Someone who is in the front line has to play a very important part in defending or achieving something. □ Information officers are in the front line of putting across government policies.
fro nt man (front men ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a front man for a group or organization, you mean that their role is to represent and give a good impression of it to the public, especially when it is not very respectable or popular. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He is the company's front man in Washington. [Also + for ]
fro nt-pa ge ADJ [ADJ n] A front-page article or picture appears on the front page of a newspaper because it is very important or interesting. □ …a front-page article in last week's paper.
fro nt-ru nner (front-runners ) N‑COUNT In a competition or contest, the front-runner is the person who seems most likely to win it. □ Neither of the front-runners in the presidential election is a mainstream politician.
frost /frɒ st, [AM ] frɔː st/ (frosts ) N‑VAR When there is frost or a frost , the temperature outside falls below freezing point and the ground becomes covered in ice crystals. □ There is frost on the ground and snow is forecast. □ The wind had veered to north, bringing clear skies and a keen frost.
frost|bite /frɒ stba I t, [AM ] frɔː st-/ N‑UNCOUNT Frostbite is a condition in which parts of your body, such as your fingers or toes, become seriously damaged as a result of being very cold. □ The survivors suffered from frostbite.
frost|bitten /frɒ stb I t ə n, [AM ] frɔː st-/ ADJ If a person or a part of their body is frostbitten , they are suffering from frostbite.
frost|ed /frɒ st I d, [AM ] frɔː st-/
1 ADJ Frosted glass is glass that you cannot see through clearly. □ The top half of the door to his office was of frosted glass.
2 ADJ Frosted means covered with frost. □ …the frosted trees.
3 ADJ Frosted means covered with something that looks like frost. □ …frosted blue eye shadow.
4 ADJ Frosted means covered with icing. [AM ] □ …a plate of frosted cupcakes. in BRIT, usually use iced
frost|ing /frɒ st I ŋ, [AM ] frɔː st-/ N‑UNCOUNT Frosting is a sweet substance made from powdered sugar that is used to cover and decorate cakes. [AM ] □ …a huge pastry with green frosting on it. in BRIT, usually use icing
frosty /frɒ sti, [AM ] frɔː sti/ (frostier , frostiest )
1 ADJ If the weather is frosty , the temperature is below freezing. □ …sharp, frosty nights.
2 ADJ You describe the ground or an object as frosty when it is covered with frost. □ The street was deserted except for a cat lifting its paws off the frosty stones.
froth /frɒ θ, [AM ] frɔː θ/ (froths , frothing , frothed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Froth is a mass of small bubbles on the surface of a liquid. □ …the froth of bubbles on the top of a glass of beer. □ The froth is blown away.
2 VERB If a liquid froths , small bubbles appear on its surface. □ [V prep] The sea froths over my feet. □ [V ] Add a little of the warmed milk and allow to froth a little.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to an activity or object as froth , you disapprove of it because it appears exciting or attractive, but has very little real value or importance. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ No substance at all, just froth.