front end

   1.  An  intermediary  computer  that  does  set-up  and filtering for
   another  (usually  more  powerful  but less friendly) machine (a back
   end).

   2.  What  you're talking to when you have a conversation with someone
   who  is making replies without paying attention. "Look at the dancing
   elephants!"  "Uh-huh."  "Do  you  know what I just said?" "Sorry, you
   were talking to the front end."

   3.  Software  that  provides an interface to another program `behind'
   it,  which  may  not  be as user-friendly. Probably from analogy with
   hardware front-ends (see sense 1) that interfaced with mainframes.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {engine}]