Façade

From Fresh Dictionary

English

Etymology

French façade, from Italian facciata, a derivation of faccia, front, from Latin facies, face; compare face

Alternative spellings

• facade

Noun

façade (plural: façades)

1. (Architecture): The face of a building, especially the front view or elevation.
   • 1865: In Egypt the façades of their rock-cut tombs were ... ornamented so simply and unobtrusively as rather to belie than to announce their internal magnificence. - James Fergusson, A History of Architecture in All Countries
   • 1880: Like so many of the finest churches, [the cathedral of Siena] was furnished with a plain substantial front wall, intended to serve as the backing and support of an ornamental façade - Charles Eliot Norton, Historical Studies of Church-Building in the Middle Ages
2. A deceptive outward appearance.
3. (Organ building): the prospect

Synonyms

• (face of a building): face, front, frontage
• (deceptive outward appearance): appearance, cover, front, guise, pretence, show

References

• Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (G & C. Merriam Co., 1913, edited by Noah Porter), ARTFL version at [1]
• The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1914

Translations

of a building

deceptive outward appearance

to be checked

Dictionary notes

• American Heritage Dictionary (via answers.com) lists both spelling alternatives in the order: facade, façade.
• Collins Word Exchange lists both spelling alternatives in the order: façade, facade.
• Merriam-Webster Online lists both spelling alternatives in the order: façade, facade.
• MSN Encarta Dictionary lists both spelling alternatives in the order: facade, façade.
• Diccionario Oxford Pocket Edición Latinoamericana lists only façade.

Dutch

Noun

façade f.

1. façade (of a building)
2. façade (deceptive outward appearance)

French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fa.sad/
• SAMPA: /fa.sad/

Noun

façade f.

1. façade (of a building)
2. façade (deceptive outward appearance)el:façade

fr:façade io:façade nl:façade pl:façade pt:façade zh:façade