# frontal

/ˈfɹəntəɫ/ (US) · /fɹˈʌntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frontal
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. at the front

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

located at or directed toward the front of something.

For teachers: situated at or directed toward the front; often used to describe a direct, head-on approach or attack.

- The army decided against a frontal attack because the enemy's defenses were too strong.
- The general dismissed the possibility of a frontal assault, opting instead for a flanking manoeuvre to exploit the enemy's weaker perimeter.

### 2. relating to the forehead

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the forehead or the front part of the brain.

For teachers: pertaining to the forehead, the frontal bone, or the frontal lobe of the brain.

- The doctor explained that the frontal lobe of the brain helps us make decisions.
- The patient suffered a fracture to the frontal bone following the collision, necessitating immediate neurological evaluation.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun it modifies.

### 3. weather fronts

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to a weather front, where warm and cold air meet.

For teachers: of or relating to a meteorological front.

- The heavy rain was caused by a frontal system moving across the coast.
- Meteorologists predicted that the arrival of the cold frontal boundary would trigger significant atmospheric instability and heavy precipitation.

### 4. altar covering

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a decorative cloth used to cover the front of a church altar.

For teachers: a decorative hanging or drapery covering the front of an altar.

- The church used a beautiful gold frontal for the holiday service.
- The cathedral's collection includes a sixteenth-century silk frontal, intricately embroidered with scenes from the lives of the saints.

## Examples

- The car suffered heavy frontal damage in the crash.
- The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for high-level functions like planning and decision-making.
- The military strategy shifted from a direct frontal assault to a series of flanking maneuvers designed to weaken the enemy's supply lines without a head-on collision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.