The strictest meaning of
face is the front part of the
head of the
human being – between the
ears, below the
hair or
scalp, down to the
neck.
Features of the face include the forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, chin and any facial hair.
The face is the most easily recognisable part of a person, due to the large number of features and the variability of colour, placement and size of them. However this recognisability is due in no small part to the observer: we have parts of our brains dedicated solely to the task of recognising human faces.
Biologically, the face is a cluster of orifices and sense organs located conveniently near to the brain, and thoughtfully pointed in the direction that the face’s owner will be moving. Thus to change direction is to go about-face.
The face is the front of a person, literally and metaphorically. To change facing is to point in a different direction. To face up to a fact or to face the music is to stop ignoring (metaphorically looking away from) it.
The face can be considered as a cluster of input-output ports. Inputs are visual, audible, smell and taste data; food, water and air. And outputs are air, sound and facial expressions. The face is the primary body part used in human non-verbal communication.
The only other significant cluster of input-output ports on the human body is the groin. While the groin is universally considered the most private part of the body, the face is the most public. Only in very extreme conditions do fashions or climate dictate that the face must be covered, and likewise the groin will be the last part to be uncovered.
Face as a verb can also mean to turn or point towards, e.g. The TV faced towards the couch. Note that his implies that the TV has a face – i.e. the front working surface of an inanimate object is a metaphorical face.
A face (noun) can simply mean a flat surface, e.g. A cube has six faces, but a cliff only has one.
Face is often used as a translation for an eastern concept meaning something like Social standing, respect, dignity, honour, prestige or gravitas.
Presenting the familiar in a novel writeup - to replace the short writeup that got nuked