frontal
frontal — adjective
1. used to describe something that is located at or belongs to the forward-facing s
used to describe something that is located at or belongs to the forward-facing side of an object, building, or body part
The frontal lobe of the brain controls decision-making and planning.
anatomical term: frontal lobe
The hikers stopped to admire the mountain's frontal face, which glowed orange in the sunset.
natural collocation: frontal face of a mountain
The car's frontal damage showed how hard it had hit the concrete wall.
The security camera provides a clear frontal view of the apartment building's main entrance.
The frontal section of the museum displays ancient pottery and tools.
文法句型
frontal + noun
用法筆記
Almost always appears before a noun. You cannot say 'The wall is frontal'; instead say 'the frontal wall'.
常見錯誤
2. describing the upper forward section of the skull, covering the forehead and the
describing the upper forward section of the skull, covering the forehead and the bone behind it
The doctor gently pressed on the frontal bone above Yasmin's left eye.
anatomical term: frontal bone
After the fall, Jenna complained of severe frontal headaches that kept her in bed for three days.
medical: frontal headache after head trauma
Tamás, a rugby player, took an elbow to the frontal region of his skull and was rushed to hospital.
Sari touched her forehead and felt pain in the frontal area above her eye.
- occipital
relating to the back of the head, opposite the frontal area
文法句型
frontal + noun (anatomical term)
用法筆記
Common in medical and anatomical writing. Many terms are fixed collocations: 'frontal bone', 'frontal sinus', 'frontal lobe' — although 'frontal lobe' belongs to sense 1 when referring to the front of the brain.
常見錯誤
3. describing an attack, criticism, or challenge that is delivered in a powerful an
describing an attack, criticism, or challenge that is delivered in a powerful and straightforward way, without trying to hide or soften it
The senator launched a frontal attack on the government's new tax policy.
collocation: frontal attack
Roya's frontal criticism of the proposal surprised everyone in the boardroom.
The newspaper published a frontal assault on the company's safety record.
Quinn prefers honest conversation over frontal confrontation in office meetings.
The opposition party made a frontal challenge to the prime minister's leadership.
文法句型
frontal + attack/assault/criticism/challenge
用法筆記
Almost always paired with specific nouns — 'attack', 'assault', 'criticism', 'challenge'. It is rarely used alone. Common in political reporting and formal debates.
常見錯誤
4. used in weather reporting to describe conditions related to the boundary where t
used in weather reporting to describe conditions related to the boundary where two different air masses meet each other
A cold frontal system is expected to bring heavy rain to the coast tonight.
meteorology: cold frontal system
Meteorologists in Tokyo tracked the cold frontal boundary as it approached, warning residents about possible flooding.
meteorology: cold frontal boundary tracked for flooding risk
The warm frontal passage caused temperatures to rise quickly during the afternoon.
Ships at sea must prepare for sudden shifts in wind when a frontal line approaches.
- weather-front
the noun form for the same concept; 'frontal' is the adjective
- boundary
more general term used in meteorology for a front
文法句型
frontal + system/boundary/passage
用法筆記
Limited to weather forecasting and meteorology. Not used in everyday conversation. 'Frontal system' is the most common fixed phrase in this sense.
常見錯誤
frontal — noun
1. a decorative covering, often made of fine fabric or embroidered material, placed
a decorative covering, often made of fine fabric or embroidered material, placed on the front of a church altar
The priest carefully ironed the white linen frontal before the Sunday service.
Sivan embroidered a beautiful golden frontal for the altar in the village chapel.
ecclesiastical: embroidered frontal
The church's velvet frontal was decorated with images of saints and angels.
During Lent, the altar frontal is changed to a simple purple cloth without ornament.
- altar cloth
more general everyday term for any cloth used on an altar
- antependium
more formal Latin-based term for the same item
用法筆記
A specialized term used mainly in Christian church settings. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'altar cloth' or 'altar covering'.
常見錯誤
2. the outward-facing front side of a building, especially when designed to be impr
the outward-facing front side of a building, especially when designed to be impressive or decorative in style
The marble frontal of the old bank was decorated with carved columns and stone lions guarding the entrance.
architectural: marble frontal with lions
Amira admired the beautifully carved stone frontal of the cathedral, which showed scenes from the Bible.
collocation: stone frontal with biblical scenes
A falling tree branch cracked the stone frontal of the town hall, so workers put up safety barriers.
Skilled artisans spent two full years restoring the elaborately carved stone frontal of the museum.
用法筆記
Less common than 'facade', which is the preferred architectural term for a building's front. 'Frontal' is used mainly in formal or historical descriptions.