frame

1 of 3

noun

1

a

: the physical makeup of an animal and especially a human body : physique, figure

b

: something composed of parts fitted together and united

2

a

: the underlying constructional system or structure that gives shape or strength (as to a building)

b

: a frame dwelling

3

a

: an open case or structure made for admitting, enclosing, or supporting something

a window frame

b(1)

frames plural : that part of a pair of glasses other than the lenses

(2)

: a part of a pair of glasses that holds one of the lenses

c

: a structural unit in an automobile chassis supported on the axles and supporting the rest of the chassis and the body

d

: a machine built upon or within a framework

a spinning frame

4

a

: an enclosing border

b

: the matter or area enclosed in such a border: such as

(1)

: an individual drawing in a comic strip usually enclosed by a bordering line

(2)

: one picture of the series on a length of film

(3)

: one of the squares in which scores for each round are recorded (as in bowling)

also : a round in bowling

(4)

: a complete image for display (as on a television set)

c

: an inning in baseball

d(1)

: framework sense 1a

(2)

: context, frame of reference

e

: an event that forms the background for the action of a novel or play

5

: frame-up

6

obsolete : the act or manner of framing

Illustration of frame

• frame 2a

frame

2 of 3

verb

ˈfrām 

framed; framing

transitive verb

1

: to enclose in a frame

frame a picture

also : to enclose as if in a frame

a face framed in a wealth of auburn hair

2

a

: to give expression to : formulate

frame a rule that brings order into our perceptions

—Virginia Woolf

b

: to draw up (something, such as a document)

frame a written constitution

c

: plan, contrive

framed a new method of achieving their purpose

d

: shape, construct

frame a figure out of clay

3

a

: to contrive the evidence against (an innocent person) so that a verdict of guilty is assured

He claims that he was framed for the murder.

b

: to devise (something, such as a criminal charge) falsely

frame a case against a neighbor to get rid of him

c

: fix sense 7b

The wrestling matches were framed.

4

: to construct by fitting and uniting the parts of the skeleton of (a structure)

frame a house

5

: to fit or adjust especially to something or for an end : arrange

framed the test to evaluate students' understanding of the material

6

obsolete : produce

intransitive verb

1

archaic : proceed, go

2

obsolete : manage

framable adjective

or frameable

ˈfrā-mə-bəl 

framer noun

frame

3 of 3

adjective

: having a wood frame

frame houses

Synonyms

Noun

• architecture
• armature
• cadre
• configuration
• edifice
• fabric
• framework
• framing
• infrastructure
• shell
• skeleton
• structure

Verb

• fabricate
• fashion
• form
• make
• manufacture
• produce

Examples of frame in a Sentence

Noun

the frame of a house

I need new frames for my glasses.

Verb

It was the first state to frame a written constitution.

She framed her questions carefully.

He took the time to frame a thoughtful reply.

She claims that she was framed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Orioles responded with the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the frame when Mountcastle hit a sharp line drive to Witt at shortstop. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

The single debuted at No. 36 on Hot Latin Songs dated June 24, 2023, and peaked at No. 35 the following frame. —Xander Zellner, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024

The group stated online that consumers may reuse eclipse indefinitely, if they aren't scratched, torn, coming loose from the frame or damaged. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024

Cortes was battered for three runs in the first inning and surrendered a solo home run in the second, then settled down and threw three scoreless frames before getting the hook. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The cargo ship – about the length of three football fields – has as many as 4,000 tons of steel frame hanging on its bow since the ship plowed into the Key Bridge – sending a crew of construction workers plunging to the frigid water below. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024

Trailing by two, Bellarmine scored four in the fourth and shut out Oak Ridge over the final four frames. —Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024

The debris was part of the door frame found above the first-class lounge entrance in the ship built by Harland and Wolff. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2024

The frame, which could be adjusted to change the angle of repose, held a slim, black fur mattress with a cylindrical headrest. —Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

But the former speaker framed a new stadium in Kansas as a project that would solidify the Kansas City region as the team’s permanent home, while opening doors to Super Bowls, Big 12 football championships, bowl games and The Final Four, which would likely require some kind of stadium cover. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

Clay had delivered, framing Connecticut’s gubernatorial race as a kickoff to an antislavery crusade, to culminate with Republicans winning the presidency in November. —Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

Heap and supporters of the measure, including the conservative Free Enterprise Club, frame the argument as one of principle: Americans agree that only citizens should vote, so the state's legislative districts should be based only on the population of eligible voters. —The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024

Engaging with the grantor prior to the application can provide valuable insights on how to properly frame your proposal. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Sometimes their irises are made of buttons, which the artist also uses to represent other body parts, including breasts and a corona of pink curls framing a round yellow face. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

The show was framed as news, but sounded to me more like an hour-long infomercial. —Lisa Shah, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024

Cardi kept the gray vibes going with matching blue-gray contacts and wore her hair in a glamorous updo with soft curls pulled out to frame her face. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Mar. 2024

The philosopher-founders of EA scrambled to frame Bankman-Fried as a sinner who strayed from their faith. —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Adjective

After the shutter button is pressed, Samsung uses advanced multi-frame processing to combine multiple images into a single picture and AI to automatically adjust the photo as necessary. —Samantha Kelly, CNN, 5 Apr. 2023

To start with, the company’s Super Resolution feature kicks in at zoom levels of 25x and higher, and uses multi-frame processing to combine over 10 images to reduce noise and enhance clarity. —Jon Porter, The Verge, 15 Mar. 2023

These tools often leverage multi-frame photography that appears directly in the platform, but also gets repurposed for downloadable PDF digital catalogs. —Outside Online, 17 Dec. 2021

This is where software processing comes in: Xiaomi’s post-image processing uses a proprietary algorithm that cleans up the shot with multi-frame HDR and defogging. —Ben Sin, Forbes, 30 Aug. 2021

The weld between the outrigger assembly and the body's sub-frame assembly may be inadequate, which could result in failure of the aerial unit during use. —Detroit Free Press, 5 June 2021

The Spurs were 0-3 in OT heading into Monday, including extra-frame losses to Atlanta and Indiana earlier this month. —Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, to benefit, construct, from Old English framian to benefit, make progress; akin to Old Norse fram forward, Old English fram from

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Adjective

1780, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing frame

• A-frame
• frame of reference
• time frame
• freeze-frame
• mind frame
• spinning frame
• sub-frame
• climbing frame
• frame of mind
• in the frame
• cold frame
• picture frame
• reading frame
• out of the frame
• frame-up
• space frame
• Zimmer frame

Kids Definition

frame

1 of 3 verb

ˈfrām 

framed; framing

1

a

: plan entry 2 sense 1

framed a new strategy

b

: shape entry 1 sense 1, construct

frame a figure out of clay

c

: to give expression to

frame a reply

d

: to set down in writing

frame a constitution

2

: to make (an innocent person) appear guilty

3

: to enclose in a frame

frame a picture

framer noun

frame

2 of 3 noun

1

: the bodily structure of an animal and especially a human being : physique

2

: an arrangement of parts that gives form or support to something

the frame of a house

3

a

: an open case or structure for holding or enclosing something

a picture frame

a window frame

b

plural : the part of a pair of glasses that holds the lenses

4

: a turn in bowling

5

: an enclosing border: as

a

: one of the drawings in a comic strip

b

: one picture of the series on a length of film or in a television transmission

6

: a particular state or mood

in a good frame of mind

frame

3 of 3 adjective

: having a wood frame

frame houses

Medical Definition

frame

noun

ˈfrām 

1

: the physical makeup of an animal and especially a human body : physique, figure

2

a

: a part of a pair of glasses that holds one of the lenses

b

frames plural : that part of a pair of glasses other than the lenses

Legal Definition

frame

transitive verb

framed; framing

1

: to formulate the contents of and draw up (as a document)

in the two hundred years since our Constitution was framed

—W. J. Brennan, Jr.

2

: to contrive the evidence against (as an innocent person) so that a verdict of guilty is assured