frame

noun

• 1a rigid structure that surrounds something such as a picture, door, or windowpane.
• (frames) 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 an old bicycle frame
• a box-like 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.
• [in singular] archaic the universe, or part of it, regarded as an embracing structure: this goodly frame the Earth

• 2a person’s body with reference to its size or build:a shiver shook her slim frame

• 3 [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 below.the Earth’s motion relative to the frame of the distant galaxies
• [in singular] archaic the structure, constitution, or nature of someone or something:we have in our inward frame various affections

• 4 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.
• 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

• 5a 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.
• Computing 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.

• 6the triangular structure for positioning the red balls in snooker.
• a single game of snooker: Jones won the first four frames

verb

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

• 2formulate (a concept, plan, or system):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?

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