{
    "term": "face",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "image": "data/images/bo/body_face.png",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "the front part of the head, where the eyes, nose and mouth are",
            "sensetop": "on somebody's facein the face",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a pretty/pale/round face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **buried his face** in his hands."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to hide/cover your face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You should have seen the look on her face when I told her!",
                    "contextForm": "on somebody's face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The expression on his face never changed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was red in the face with embarrassment.",
                    "contextForm": "in the face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "At that time, her face was on the covers of all the magazines."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A face peered around the door at him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a craggy face with deep-set eyes and bushy brows"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The look on his face was priceless."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A look of disgust flickered across his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "From the stage, he looked down at a sea of faces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He tilted her face up to his."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His eyes were sunken in his gaunt face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The ball hit him in the face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She slapped him in the face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I like to feel the wind in my face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She turned her face away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The robber made no attempt to hide his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He covered his face with his hands."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Go and wash your face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What's that mark on your face?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She put some powder on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has a beautiful, oval face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A tall man with a handsome face appeared."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The child drew a face with two round eyes and a mouth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I lay face up on the grass, staring at the sky."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had a big smile on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face was flushed after her run."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A wry smile crossed his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her short hair suited her elfin face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Jack's face flushed with embarrassment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face and neck looked red."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He looked at his face in the mirror."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Body"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["front", "rear", "North"],
                "phrases": ["face down", "face downwards/​downward", "face up"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "an expression that is shown on somebody’s face",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a smiling/happy/sad face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her **face lit up** *(= showed happiness)* when she spoke of the past."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His **face fell** *(= showed disappointment, sadness, etc.)* when he read the headlines."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could tell by his face it hadn't gone well."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sue's **face was a picture** *(= she looked very surprised, angry, etc.)* as she listened to her husband's speech."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face looked a little confused."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He just stood there with a confused face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The father's face softened as he hugged his little boy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her little face lit up when I gave her the present."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face darkened with anger."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face broke into a wide smile."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face brightened when she saw me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A girl with a friendly face opened the door."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face paled with fright."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face suddenly grew serious."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face cleared and she smiled back."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face remained impassive, so strong was his self-control."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face was set and hard."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face set in grim lines."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He searched her face for some clue as to what she meant."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You could read her confusion in her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She looked at the honest, open face of her husband."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face betrayed no emotion at all."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She drew a little yellow smiley face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face contorted in pain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face crumpled and she started crying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the sight of Sarah's smiling face beaming at him"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I laughed at his funny face."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["animated", "cheerful", "friendly"],
                "verb + face": ["make", "pull", "search"],
                "face + verb": ["look", "seem", "grow"],
                "preposition": ["on somebody’s face"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a face like thunder",
                    "keep a straight face",
                    "an/​the expression on somebody’s face"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "used to refer to a person of the type mentioned",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She looked around for a **familiar face**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's a **fresh face** *(= somebody new)* at the company."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's nice to see some **new faces** here this evening."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The movie is full of **famous faces**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a well-known face on our television screens"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm tired of seeing the same old faces every time we go out!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a restaurant where you often see famous faces"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm so bored with seeing the same old faces!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's nice to see a friendly face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I recognize a few faces here."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're bringing in a lot of fresh faces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "At last—here's a face I know!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They want recognizable faces to promote their products."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a bit disconcerting to wake up and see a strange face."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["familiar", "old", "different"],
                "verb + face": ["see"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "having the type of face or expression mentioned",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "pale-faced"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a freckle-faced boy"
                },
                {
                    "text": "grim-faced"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a sad-faced woman"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a side or surface of something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the north face of the mountain"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the dark face of the moon"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A steep path zigzags down the **cliff face**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We could see tiny figures climbing the **rock face**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ivy covered the front face of the house."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A banner hung across the face of the building."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How many faces does a cube have?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The birds build their nests in the rock face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We slowly climbed the steep face of the crag."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His shot went across the face of the goal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "words chiselled into the face of a stone block"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their corporate logo was emblazoned across the face of a skyscraper."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the picture on the rear face of the box"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They made their way slowly down the mountain face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an octagonal vase with molded decorations on each face"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a polyhedron with twelve faces"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["front", "rear", "North"],
                "phrases": ["face down", "face downwards/​downward", "face up"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "the front part of a clock or watch",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a dial like the face of a clock"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["front", "rear", "North"],
                "phrases": ["face down", "face downwards/​downward", "face up"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "the particular character of something",
            "sensetop": "face of somethingwith a… face",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the changing face of Britain",
                    "contextForm": "face of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This discovery **changed the** whole **face** of science."
                },
                {
                    "text": "bureaucracy with a **human face**",
                    "contextForm": "with a… face"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["human", "acceptable", "unacceptable"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "a particular aspect of something",
            "sensetop": "face of something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Social deprivation is the unacceptable face of capitalism."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has become the public face of the company."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["human", "acceptable", "unacceptable"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to describe something that you have failed to see, even though it was obvious and should have been easy to see",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The answer was staring us in the face but we never saw it until it was too late."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to be certain to happen",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Defeat was staring them in the face."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be unable to avoid something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They were staring defeat in the face."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be very obvious to other people from the expression on somebody’s face",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Guilt was written all over his face."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if a plan, etc. blows up in your face, it goes badly wrong in a way that causes you damage or makes you feel embarrassed",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something when you are angry that is meant to harm somebody else but that also harms you",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to disappear completely",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep looking—they can't just have vanished off the face of the earth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to try to do something as hard and as long as you possibly can but without success",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You can argue till you're blue in the face, but you won't change my mind."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that somebody will/will not get a particular job or position because they have/do not have the appearance, personality, etc. that the employer wants, even when this should not be important",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If your face fits, you'll get the job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It doesn't matter how well qualified you are; if your face doesn't fit, you don't stand a chance."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "somebody looks very angry",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Mr Hibbs came in with a face like thunder."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Appearance", "Feelings"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "close to and looking at somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The two have never met face to face before."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The room fell silent as she came face to face with the man who had tried to kill her."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "in a situation where you have to accept that something is true and deal with it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was at an early age brought face to face with the horrors of war."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "with your face and stomach facing upwards/downwards",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She lay face down on the bed."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "with the front part or surface facing upwards/downwards",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Place the card face up on the pile."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She placed the cards face down on the table."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to fall so that you are lying on your front",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to fail completely, usually in an embarrassing way",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "His next television venture fell flat on its face."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to eat a lot of food or too much food",
            "labels": "(informal, usually disapproving)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to oppose or be the opposite of something that is usual or expected",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Such a proposal is flying in the face of common sense."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something that other people think is rude or shows a lack of respect, without feeling embarrassed or ashamed",
            "labels": "(British English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I don't know how you have the face to complain after everything they've done for you!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be made to look stupid",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They were left with egg on their faces when only ten people showed up."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "annoying somebody by criticizing them or telling them what to do all the time",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Why are you always in my face?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "despite problems, difficulties, etc.",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She showed great courage in the face of danger."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The campaign continued in the face of great opposition."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Danger", "Difficulty and failure"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "as a result of something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was unable to deny the charges in the face of new evidence."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to show in a very obvious way that you have no respect for somebody",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be forced to change from feeling pleased or satisfied to feeling disappointed or annoyed",
            "labels": "(British English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He’ll be laughing on the other side of his face when he reads my letter."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "(to have) an unhappy or disappointed expression",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He took one look at her long face and said ‘What’s wrong?’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The news for the company isn't good, to judge from the long faces in the boardroom."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to look straight at somebody without feeling embarrassed or ashamed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Can you look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She looked her father straight in the eye and answered his question truthfully."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll never be able to look her in the face again!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be less respected or look stupid because of something you have done",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Many leaders don't want to lose face by admitting failures."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the state of being less respected by other people or looking stupid because of something you have done",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Failure to pass the exams means a massive loss of face for the students and their parents."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to emphasize that you have particular skills or qualities",
            "labels": "(humorous)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘I didn't know you could play the piano.’ ‘I'm not just a pretty face, you know!’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that something seems to be good, true, etc. but that this opinion may need to be changed when you know more about it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "On the face of it, it seems like a great deal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What may, on the face of it, seem obvious often turns out to be far more complicated."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "very obvious",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to produce an expression on your face to show that you do not like somebody/something or in order to make somebody laugh",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What are you pulling a face at now?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you think it’s funny to make faces behind my back?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She made a disgusted face at that and walked away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She made a funny face and gave a snorting sort of laugh."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Appearance"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to put on make-up",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to pretend that you feel confident and happy when you do not",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I had to put on a brave face and try to show him that I wasn’t worried."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He put a brave face on his illness."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to avoid or help somebody avoid being embarrassed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was fired, but she saved face by telling everyone she'd resigned."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be determined to oppose somebody/something",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It is a shame that the council has set its face against the scheme."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to appear among your friends or in public",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She stayed at home, afraid to show her face."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to shut a door hard when somebody is trying to come in",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to refuse to talk to somebody or meet them, in a rude way",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a rude way of telling somebody to be quiet or stop talking",
            "labels": "(slang)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "an action that seems to be intended as a deliberate way of offending and showing lack of respect for somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The closure of the school is a slap in the face to the local community."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you keep a straight face, you do not laugh or smile, although you find something funny",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you say something to somebody’s face, you say it to them directly rather than to other people",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He’s a liar, and I’ve told him so to his face many times."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to refer to a person whose name you cannot remember",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Are you still working for what's her face?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to destroy or remove somebody/something completely",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/feɪs/",
                "audio": "fa/face/face__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/feɪs/",
                "audio": "fa/face/face__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin facies ‘form, appearance, face’."
}