frontier

fron-tier · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A line or border separating two countries.

  2. 2.

    The extreme limit of settled land beyond which lies wilderness, especially in American history.

  3. 3.

    The limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular field.

Forms

plural: frontiers

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    the final frontier — space exploration; the last area to be explored
  • •
    push the frontiers — to extend the limits of knowledge or achievement
  • •
    frontier spirit — the adventurous and self-reliant attitude of early settlers

Related words

Antonyms: center, interior
See also: border, boundary, pioneer, wilderness
Synonyms: border, boundary, edge, limit

Etymology

From Old French frontiere ("boundary, front line"), from front ("forehead, front"), from Latin frons ("forehead, brow").