full-faced

A baby with a full-faced smile looks up from her crib.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a full or round face: "full-faced" describes a person whose face is broad, round, and plump, often with prominent cheeks.
   • Looking directly at the viewer: In art or photography, "full-faced" means the subject is depicted or positioned facing straight forward, with their entire face visible.
   • Bold or thick (typography): In printing, "full-faced" refers to type that is heavy, dark, or bold, as opposed to light or regular font weight.

Usage Examples

• Having a full or round face:

  • The portrait showed a full-faced woman with rosy cheeks. (The woman had a round, plump face.)
  • He was described as full-faced and cheerful, with a double chin. (His face was broad and fleshy.)

• Looking directly at the viewer:

  • The photograph was a full-faced portrait, with the subject staring straight into the camera. (The subject faced the camera directly, not in profile.)
  • In the painting, the king is depicted full-faced, meeting the viewer's gaze. (The king is shown facing forward.)

• Bold or thick (typography):

  • The headline was set in full-faced type to catch the reader's attention. (The font was bold and heavy.)
  • Use full-faced characters for emphasis in the document. (Use bold letters.)

Advanced Usage

• "full-faced lie": an outright or blatant lie, without any attempt to conceal it (rare, but used figuratively).

  • He told a full-faced lie about his qualifications. (He lied shamelessly and directly.)

• "full-faced moon": a poetic description of a moon that appears round and fully illuminated.

  • The full-faced moon shone brightly over the lake. (The moon was perfectly round and bright.)

Variants and Related Words

• Full-face (adj): used as a compound adjective, often interchangeable with "full-faced," especially in contexts like "full-face portrait" or "full-face helmet."
  • She wore a full-face helmet while riding the motorcycle. (A helmet covering the entire face.)
• Fullness (n): the quality of being full or plump, often applied to facial features.
  • The fullness of her cheeks gave her a youthful appearance. (The roundness of her cheeks.)

Synonyms

• Round-faced: having a circular or oval face shape.
• Plump-faced: having a face with soft, fleshy cheeks.
• Forward-facing: looking or directed straight ahead (for the "looking directly" sense).
• Bold: (for typography) thick, heavy, or dark in appearance.

Related Idioms

• Face full on: to confront or deal with something directly and without hesitation.
  • He faced the problem full on, without backing down. (He tackled it directly.)
• Full in the face: occurring directly and forcefully (e.g., wind or criticism).
  • The wind hit him full in the face as he opened the door. (Directly and strongly.)