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**fore·front** /'fɔ:frʌnt||'fɔ:r-/ n [the (of)] the most forward place; leading position: *She has been in/at the forefront of the struggle for women's rights.*
**fore·go** /fɔ:'gəʊ||fɔ:r-/ v **-went** /'went/, **-gone** /'gɒn||'gɔ:n/ [T; past tense rare] to FORGO
**fore·go·ing** /fɔ:'gəʊɪŋ||'fɔ:r-/ adj, n [A; the+C] pl. foregoing fml (the one) that has just been mentioned: *The foregoing (paragraph) is a brief summary of the situation; in what follows I shall go into more detail.*
**foregone con'clusion** n [S] a result that is or was certain: *'Do you think he'll win again?' 'He won the last four matches so I think it's a foregone conclusion.'*
**fore·ground** /'fɔ:ɡraʊnd||'fɔ:r-/ n the nearest part of a scene in a view, a picture, or a photograph: *a photograph of our town, with the church in the foreground* | (fig.) *She talks a great deal, because she likes to keep herself in the foreground.* (=as noticeable as possible) $\rightarrow$ compare BACKGROUND
**fore·hand** /'fɔ:hænd||'fɔ:r-/ n (in games such as tennis) (the ability to make) a stroke with the front of the hand (the PALM) turned in the direction of movement: *She has a very strong forehand.* $\rightarrow$ compare BACKHAND **—forehand** adj, adv: *a forehand smash*
**fore·head** /'fɒrəd, 'fɔ:hed||'fɔ:rəd, 'fɑ:rəd, 'fɔ:rhed/ n the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair: *a man with a high (=wide) forehead* $\rightarrow$ see picture at HEAD
**for·eign** /'fɒrən||'fɔ:-, 'fɑ:-/ adj [no comp.] **1** to, from, of, in, being, or concerning a country or nation that is not one's own or not the one being talked about or considered: *foreign travel* | *These oranges are foreign produce.* | *I collect foreign stamps.* | *Have you had any foreign experience as a teacher?* (=Have you taught in other countries?) | *He's visited many foreign countries and has learnt several foreign languages.* | *I can't understand what he says; he must be foreign.* $\rightarrow$ compare DOMESTIC$^1$, NATIVE$^1$; see OVERSEAS (USAGE) **2** [F+to] fml having no place (in); having no relation (to): *He's a very good person; unkindness is foreign to his nature.* **3** [A] fml coming or brought in from outside; not belonging; harmful: *The swelling on her finger was caused by a foreign body in it.* (=a small piece of something that had entered it by accident)
**,foreign af'fairs** n [P] matters concerning international relations and the interests of one's own country in foreign countries: *the Ministry of Foreign Affairs*
**,foreign 'aid** n [U] money, goods etc given to poor countries; AID
**,Foreign and 'Commonwealth ,Office, the** the official name of the FOREIGN OFFICE
**for·eign·er** /'fɒrənəʳ||'fɔ:-, 'fɑ:-/ n a person belonging to a foreign race or country: *Some of the local people are suspicious of foreigners.*
**,foreign ex'change** n [U] (the practice of buying and selling) foreign money
**Foreign 'Legion, the** a part of the French army that is made up of VOLUNTEERS (=men who chose to join), most of whom are not French. They were formerly used to protect French colonies (COLONY) in North Africa, and they are thought of as working in severe and difficult conditions, often in the desert. There is a joke that men join the Foreign Legion in order to forget women with whom they have had unhappy love affairs.
**foreign 'minister** n the head of the foreign office, the government department responsible for a country's relations with other countries. In Britain the head of the Foreign Office is called the Foreign Secretary: *The foreign ministers of the 12 EU countries meet in Brussels today.*
**Foreign ,Office, the** the British government department that deals with the UK's political relationship with other countries, and sends DIPLOMATS to represent the UK in foreign countries. It is controlled by the FOREIGN SECRETARY and its official name is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. THE STATE DEPARTMENT is a similar government department in the US.
**foreign 'policy** n [U] the general plan of one country
**foreshadow**
concerning its relations with other countries: *It is not yet clear who will be in charge of foreign policy in the new government.*
**,Foreign 'Secretary** n the British politician who is in charge of the FOREIGN OFFICE and the UK's political relationship with other countries; it is one of the most important positions in the British government. In the US there is a similar politician called the SECRETARY OF STATE.
**'Foreign ,Service, the** a part of the US STATE DEPARTMENT which employs the people who work in US embassies (EMBASSY) all over the world. In the UK there is a similar department called the DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.
**fore·knowl·edge** /fɔ:'nɒlɪdʒ||fɔ:r'nɑ:l-/ n [U(of)] fml knowledge about something before it happens
**fore·leg** /'fɔ:leg||'fɔ:r-/ n either of the two front legs of a four-legged animal
**fore·lock** /'fɔ:lɒk||'fɔ:rlɑ:k/ n **1** a piece of hair growing just above and falling over the forehead: *She brushed her horse's mane and forelock before the show jumping began.* **2 tug at/touch one's forelock** BrE to be (too) respectful to someone in a position of power, someone of a higher social class etc
**fore·man** /'fɔ:mən||'fɔ:r-/, forewoman fem. — n pl. **-men** /-mən/ **1** a skilled and experienced worker who is put in charge of other workers **2** (in a court of law) the leader of the 12 people (JURY) appointed to decide whether a person on trial is guilty or not
**fore·most** /'fɔ:məʊst||'fɔ:r-/ adj [the+A] most important; leading: *He was the foremost conductor of his day.* $\rightarrow$ see also first and foremost (FIRST$^1$)
**fore·name** /'fɔ:neɪm||'fɔ:r-/ n fml for FIRST NAME
**fore·noon** /'fɔ:nu:n||'fɔ:r-/ n fml the time before midday; morning
**fo·ren·sic** /fə'rensɪk, -zɪk/ adj [A] tech related to or used in the law and the tracking of criminals: *The use of scientific methods by the police is known as forensic science.* | *A specialist in forensic medicine was called as a witness in the murder trial.*
**fo,rensic 'evidence** n [U] something physical, for example blood, hair, fingerprints, or drugs, which proves something in law: *The rapist was convicted on the basis of forensic evidence.*
**fo·ren·sics** /fə'rensɪks, -zɪks/ n [U] the use of scientific tests to solve crimes
**fore·or·dain** /,fɔ:rɔ:'deɪn||,fɔ:rɔ:r-/ v [T often pass.] fml to arrange or decide from the very beginning that, or how, something or someone shall happen, act, or be done: *He believed his success was foreordained.* | [+obj+to-v] *His followers were convinced that he was foreordained to lead them to victory.* | [+that] *God foreordained that she would one day be queen.*
**fore·play** /'fɔ:pleɪ||'fɔ:r-/ n [U] sexual activity, such as touching the sexual organs and kissing, that is done before SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
**fore·run·ner** /'fɔ:,rʌnəʳ/ n [+of] **1** a sign or warning that something is going to happen: *A few isolated sales were the forerunner of a massive run on the Stock Exchange.* **2** a person or group who prepares the way for, or is a sign of the coming of, an important event or influential change (in society): *Mrs Pankhurst, who fought for votes for women, was a forerunner of the modern women's movement.*
**fore·see** /fɔ:'si:||fɔ:r-/ v **-saw** /'sɔ:/, **-seen** /'si:n/ [T] to see or form an idea about (what is going to happen in the future) in advance; expect: *We should have foreseen this trouble months ago and made provisions for it.* | [+ (that)] *He foresaw that his journey would be delayed by bad weather.* | [+wh-] *It's impossible to foresee whether she'll be well enough to come home from hospital next month.* $\rightarrow$ see also UNFORESEEN
**fore·see·a·ble** /fɔ:'si:əbəl||fɔ:r-/ adj that can be foreseen: *It was a foreseeable accident.* | *The house certainly needs a new roof, but we can't afford one in the foreseeable future.* (=as far ahead in time as we can see)
**fore·shad·ow** /fɔ:'ʃædəʊ||fɔ:r-/ v [T] especially lit to be a sign of (what is coming); represent or be like (something that is going to happen)