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   frame

   /freɪm/

   noun

   • 1. a rigid structure that surrounds something such as a picture, door, or windowpane. Similar settingmountmountingsurroundfixturesupportstand
   • ▪ a metal or plastic structure holding the lenses of a pair of glasses.
   • ▪ the rigid supporting structure of an object such as a vehicle, building, or piece of furniture: "the wooden frame of the huge bed" Similar frameworkstructuresubstructureskeletonchassisshellcasingbodybodyworksupportscaffoldingfoundation
   • ▪ a boxlike structure of glass or plastic in which seeds or young plants are grown.
   • ▪ an apparatus with a surrounding structure, especially one used in weaving, knitting, or embroidery.
   • ▪ the universe, or part of it, regarded as an embracing structure: archaic "this goodly frame the Earth"
   • 2. a person's body with reference to its size or build: "a shiver shook her slim frame" Similar bodyfigureformshapephysiquebuildsizeproportionsskeletonbonesframeworkstructureinformal:bodchassis
   • 3. a basic structure that underlies or supports a system, concept, or text: "the establishment of conditions provides a frame for interpretation" Similar structureframeworkcontextschemesystemplanorderformfabricconstitutionorganization
   • ▪ short for frame of reference technical
   • ▪ the structure, constitution, or nature of someone or something: archaic "we have in our inward frame various affections"
   • 4. a structural environment within which a class of words or other linguistic units can be correctly used. For example I — him is a frame for a large class of transitive verbs.
   • ▪ a feature which marks a transition from one section of discourse to another: "frames are realized by linguistic items such as ‘well’, ‘right’, and ‘OK’"
   • ▪ a section of a discourse separated by a frame: "pragmatically asides step back from the ongoing interpretative frame"
   • ▪ (in semantics) an underlying conceptual structure into which the meanings of a number of related words fit: "the frame of verbs of perception"
   • ▪ a social context determining the interpretation of an utterance: "an utterance may mean the opposite of what it says if used within a frame of teasing"
   • 5. a single complete picture in a series forming a cinema, television, or video film: "video footage slowed down to 20 frames a second"
   • ▪ a single picture in a comic strip.
   • ▪ a graphic panel in a display window, especially in a web browser, which encloses a self-contained section of data and permits multiple independent document viewing.
   • 6. the triangular structure for positioning the red balls in snooker.
   • ▪ a single game of snooker: "Jones won the first four frames"

   verb

   • 1. place (a picture or photograph) in a frame: "he had had the photo framed" Similar mountset in a framesurroundencloseencase
   • ▪ surround so as to create a striking or attractive image: "a short style cut to frame the face"
   • 2. formulate (a concept, plan, or system): "staff have proved invaluable in framing the proposals" Similar formulatedraw upplandraftmap outsketch outwork outshapecomposeput togetherarrangeformdevisecreateestablishconceivethink uphatchoriginateorchestrateengineerorganizecoordinateinformal:dream upcook up
   • ▪ form or articulate (words): "he walked out before she could frame a reply"
   • ▪ make or construct (something) by fitting parts together or in accordance with a plan: archaic "what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
   • 3. produce false evidence against (an innocent person) so that they appear guilty: informal "he claims he was framed" Similar falsely incriminatefabricate charges againstfabricate evidence againstentrapinformal:fit upset up

   Word Origin Old Englishframian ‘be useful’, of Germanic origin and related to from. The general sense in Middle English, ‘make ready for use’, probably led to frame (sense 2 of the verb); it also gave rise to the specific meaning ‘prepare timber for use in building’, later ‘make the wooden parts (framework) of a building’, hence the noun sense ‘structure’ (late Middle English).

   Derivatives

   • 1. frameable adjective
   • 2. frameless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • F

     4

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

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