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ABOUT-FACE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A major change in attitude or principle or point of view
Example:
an about-face on foreign policy
Synonyms:
about-face; policy change; reversal; volte-face
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("about-face" is a kind of...):
change (the action of changing something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "about-face"):
undoing (an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done))
Derivation:
about-face (change one's mind and assume the opposite viewpoint)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation
Synonyms:
about-face; about turn
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("about-face" is a kind of...):
reversal; reverse; reversion; turnabout; turnaround (turning in the opposite direction)
Derivation:
about-face (turn, usually 180 degrees)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Change one's mind and assume the opposite viewpoint
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "about-face" is one way to...):
rethink (change one's mind)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
about-face (a major change in attitude or principle or point of view)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Turn, usually 180 degrees
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "about-face" is one way to...):
turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
about-face (act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation)
