face

noun

1. a : outward appearance

   b : the surface or superficial reading or meaning of something (as a document or statute) that does not take into account outside information the face of [the] deed reveals that she had two purposes in mind —State v. Rand, 366 A.2d 183 (1976) —often used in the phrases on its face and on the face of is…neutral on its face but has a discriminatory effect on women —Marcia Coyle did not see on the face of the amendment that it was precisely directed at public as distinguished from private destruction —O'Brien v. United States, 376 F.2d 538 (1967)

2. : the inscribed or printed side of something (as a document); broadly : the front side of something inscribed or printed on both sides the face of a stock certificate : the front side of something inscribed or printed on both sides the face of a stock certificate

3. : face value