Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for facet on Thesaurus.com one of the small, polished plane surfaces of a cut gem. a similar surface cut on a fragment of rock by the action of water, windblown sand, etc. aspect; phase: They carefully examined every facet of the argument. Architecture any of the faces of a column cut in a polygonal form. Zoology one of the corneal lenses of a compound arthropod eye. Anatomy a small, smooth, flat area on a hard surface, especially on a bone. Dentistry a small, highly burnished area, usually on the enamel surface of a tooth, produced by abrasion between opposing teeth in chewing. Show More
verb (used with object), fac·et·ed, fac·et·ing or (especially British ) fac·et·ted, fac·et·ting. to cut facets on. Show More
Origin of facet First recorded in
1615–25, facet is from the
French word
facette little face. See
face ,
-et Related forms un·fac·et·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for facet angle ,
level ,
appearance ,
slant ,
character ,
feature ,
plane ,
hand ,
twist ,
phase ,
switch ,
part ,
obverse ,
front ,
face ,
side Examples from the Web for facet Contemporary Examples of facet Every facet of his identity, taken alone, seemed at war with every other part of him.
That reality taints every facet of our existence, in Ferguson and beyond.
The thing that set Brown apart, however, is his command over every facet of his show.
A reader senses both storyteller and critic fighting for full expression on the page, one facet overlaying the other.
Then LaPierre went on to blame every other facet of our culture for the problem.
Historical Examples of facet They were on a facet of the hill not quite so advantageous as others.
The opercular has a facet for articulation with the hyomandibular.
In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed.
Every facet of the sprawling IC operation was being checked.
Besides, this was a facet of Budapest life he had yet to investigate.
British Dictionary definitions for facet any of the surfaces of a cut gemstone an aspect or phase, as of a subject or personality architect the raised surface between the flutes of a column any of the lenses that make up the compound eye of an insect or other arthropod anatomy any small smooth area on a hard surface, as on a bone Show More
verb -ets , -eting , -eted , -ets , -etting or -etted (tr) to cut facets in (a gemstone) Show More
Word Origin for facet C17: from French facette a little face
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for facet n. 1620s, from French facette (12c., Old French facete ), diminutive of face (see face (n.)). The diamond-cutting sense is the original one. Related: Faceted ; facets .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
A small smooth area on a bone or other firm structure. A worn spot on a tooth, produced by chewing or grinding. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
