frontal

Etymology 1

Borrowed from New Latin frontālis, from frons (“the forehead, brow, front”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix), equivalent to front + -al; cognate of French frontal. Doublet of frontalis.

adj

1. Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
   1. Directed against the front or at the main point or issue.
      a frontal attack
2. (anatomy) Of or relating to the forehead or frontal bone.
3. (anatomy) Parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane.
4. (zootomy) Any of the scales of a reptile that lie in the general region of the forehead, more specifically between the eyes and to the anterior of this area.
5. (meteorology) Of or relating to a weather front.

noun

1. (anatomy) Ellipsis of frontal bone..

Etymology 2

From Middle English frountel, from Old French frontel, from Latin frontāle (“a frontlet, metal band for the forehead”).

noun

1. (Christianity) A decorative drapery covering the front of an altar.
   Even the mantelpiece is adorned with a totally unfunctional tasselled valance rather like an altar frontal. 1969, David G. Irwin, The Visual Arts, Taste and Criticism, page 27
2. (architecture) The façade of a building.