n.
- a rigid structure surrounding a picture, door, etc.
▸
(frames)
a metal or plastic structure holding the lenses of a pair of glasses.
▸the rigid supporting structure of a vehicle, aircraft, or other object.
▸a box-like structure of glass or plastic in which seeds or young plants are grown.
- a person's body with reference to its size or build.
- a basic underlying or supporting structure of a system, concept, or text.
▸Linguistics a structural environment within which a class of words or other linguistic units can be correctly used (e.g. I —— him is a frame for a large class of transitive verbs).
- a single complete picture in a series forming a cinema, television, or video film.
▸Computing a graphic panel in an Internet browser which encloses a self-contained section of data and permits multiple independent document viewing.
- the triangular structure for positioning the red balls in snooker.
▸a single game of snooker.
v.
- place (a picture or photograph) in a frame.
▸surround so as to create a sharp or attractive image.
- formulate (a plan or concept).
▸archaic construct by fitting parts together or in accordance with a plan.
- informal produce false incriminating evidence against (an innocent person).
Phrase
Derivative
- framable adj.
- framed adj.
- frameless adj.
- framer n.
- framing n.
Etymology
OE framian ‘be useful’, later ‘prepare timber for building’, ‘make the wooden parts of a building’: of Gmc origin and rel. to from.
