frame

noun

• 1a rigid structure that surrounds or encloses something such as a door or window.
• (frames) a metal or plastic structure holding the lenses of a pair of glasses.
• a case or border enclosing a mirror or picture.
• the rigid supporting structure of an object such as a vehicle, building, or piece of furniture.
• a person’s body with reference to its size or build:a shiver shook her slim frame
• a boxlike structure of glass or plastic in which seeds or young plants are grown.
• [in singular] archaic or literary the universe, or part of it, regarded as an embracing structure.
• [in singular] archaic or literary the structure, constitution, or nature of someone or something:we have in our inward frame various affections

• 2 [usually in singular] a basic structure that underlies or supports a system, concept, or text:the establishment of conditions provides a frame for interpretation
• technicalshort for frame of reference.the Earth’s motion relative to the frame of the distant galaxies
• the genre or form of a literary text determining its expected style and content:my poems look as though they have a classical frame
• [often as modifier] an enclosing section of narrative, especially one which foregrounds or comments on the primary narrative of a text:a frame narrator reports the narrative spoken by an inner narrator

• 3 Linguistics 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.

• 4a single complete picture in a series forming a movie, television, or video film.
• a single picture in a comic strip.
• Computing a graphic panel in a display window, especially in a web browser, that encloses a self-contained section of data and permits multiple independent document viewing.

• 5another term for rack¹ (sense 4 of the noun).
• a round of play in bowling.
• informal an inning in a baseball game:he closed out the game by pitching two hitless frames

• 6short for frame-up.

verb

• 1place (a picture or photograph) in a frame:he had the photo framed
• surround so as to create a sharp or attractive image:a short, strong style cut to frame the face

• 2 erect the framework of a building.

• 3create or formulate (a concept, plan, or system):the staff have proved invaluable in framing the proposals
• form or articulate (words):he walked out before she could frame a reply
• archaic make or construct (something) by fitting parts together or in accordance with a plan:what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?

• 4 informal produce false evidence against (an innocent person) so that they appear guilty:he claims he was framed