a tooth situated at the front of the mouth
"his malocclusion was caused by malposed anteriors"
of or near the head end or toward the front plane of a body
"The anterior chamber of the eye lies between the cornea and the iris, closer to the front of the face."
Nearer the forward end, especially in the front of the body; nearer the head or forepart of an animal.
"The anterior teeth are located at the front of the mouth."
(of a part of a flower or leaf) Situated further away from the mainstem.
"The lateral petal is anterior to the central stamen, extending outward from the main stem before it forks."
In plain English: Anterior means being on the front side of something, especially when describing body parts.
"The anterior part of his face was bruised from the fall."
Usage: Use "anterior" primarily in formal or scientific contexts rather than casual speech, where "front" is preferred for general locations. Avoid applying it to non-anatomical objects unless describing specific botanical structures like leaves or flowers.
The word anterior comes from the Latin term anterior, which means "that is before" or "foremost." It was borrowed directly into English to describe something situated in front.