Frame

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Frame, v. t. [OE. framen, fremen, to execute, build, AS. fremman to further, perform, effect, fr. fram strong, valiant; akin to E. foremost, and prob. to AS. fram from, Icel. fremja, frama, to further, framr forward, G. fromm worthy, excellent, pious. See Foremost, From, and cf. Furnish.].

•  To construct by fitting and uniting the several parts of the skeleton of any structure; specifically, in woodwork, to put together by cutting parts of one member to fit parts of another. See Dovetail, Halve, v. t., Miter, Tenon, Tooth, Tusk, Scarf, and Splice.  [1913 Webster]
•  To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false.  [1913 Webster]

  "How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform.  [1913 Webster]

  "And frame my face to all occasions."  [1913 Webster]

  "We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness."  [1913 Webster]

  "The human mind is framed to be influenced."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause; to bring about; to produce.  [1913 Webster]

  "Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds."  [1913 Webster]
•  To support.  [1913 Webster]

  "That on a staff his feeble steps did frame."  [1913 Webster]
•  To provide with a frame, as a picture.  [1913 Webster]
•  to manufacture false evidence against (an innocent person), so as to make the person appear guilty of a crime. The act of framing a person is often referred to as a frame-up.  [PJC]

Frame, v. i. 

•  To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech.  Judg. xii. 6.  [1913 Webster]
•  To proceed; to go.  [1913 Webster]

  "The bauty of this sinful dame
  Made many princes thither frame."  [1913 Webster]

Frame, n. 

•  Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.  [1913 Webster]

  "These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
  Almighty! thine this universal frame."  [1913 Webster]
•  The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some bloody passion shakes your very frame."  [1913 Webster]

  "No frames could be strong enough to endure it."  [1913 Webster]
•  A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched  [1913 Webster]
•  A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government.  [1913 Webster]

  "She that hath a heart of that fine frame
  To pay this debt of love but to a brother."  [1913 Webster]

  "Put your discourse into some frame."  [1913 Webster]
•  Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame. Same as frame of mind  [1913 Webster]
•  Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.  [1913 Webster]

  "John the bastard
  Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies."  [1913 Webster]
•  In games: (a) In pool, the triangular form used in setting up the balls; also, the balls as set up, or the round of playing required to pocket them all; as, to play six frames in a game of 50 points. (b) In bowling, as in tenpins, one of the several innings forming a game.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Balloon frame, Cant frames, etc. See under Balloon, Cant, etc. -- Frame building or Frame house, a building of which the form and support is made of framed timbers. [U.S.] -- Frame level, a mason's level. -- Frame saw, a thin saw stretched in a frame to give it rigidity.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Frame, n. & v.
--n.
1 a case or border enclosing a picture, window, door, etc.
2 the basic rigid supporting structure of anything, e.g. of a building, motor vehicle, or aircraft.
3 (in pl.) the structure of spectacles holding the lenses.
4 a human or animal body, esp. with reference to its size or structure (his frame shook with laughter).
5 a framed work or structure (the frame of heaven).
6 a an established order, plan, or system (the frame of society). b construction, constitution, build.
7 a temporary state (esp. in frame of mind).
8 a single complete image or picture on a cinema film or transmitted in a series of lines by television.
9 a a triangular structure for positioning the balls in snooker etc. b the balls positioned in this way. c a round of play in snooker etc.
10 Hort. a boxlike structure of glass etc. for protecting plants.
11 a removable box of slats for the building of a honeycomb in a beehive.
12 US sl. = frame-up.
--v.tr.
1 a set in or provide with a frame. b serve as a frame for.
2 construct by a combination of parts or in accordance with a design or plan.
3 formulate or devise the essentials of (a complex thing, idea, theory, etc.).
4 (foll. by to, into) adapt or fit.
5 sl. concoct a false charge or evidence against; devise a plot with regard to.
6 articulate (words).

Idiom

frame-house a house constructed of a wooden skeleton covered with boards etc. frame of reference
1 a set of standards or principles governing behaviour, thought, etc.
2 Geom. a system of geometrical axes for defining position. frame-saw a saw stretched in a frame to make it rigid. frame-up colloq. a conspiracy, esp. to make an innocent person appear guilty.

Derivative

framable adj. frameless adj. framer n.

Etymology

OE framian be of service f. fram forward: see FROM

THESAURUS

Frame

Platonic form, Platonic idea, adjoin, aesthetic form, anatomy, angle, appendicular skeleton, archetype, architectonics, architecture, arrange, arrangement, art form, assemble, attitude, axial skeleton, backing, bank, base, baseboard, basement, bear false witness, bearing, befringe, beget, bent, bibliofilm, bind, bipack, black-and-white film, block out, blueprint, board, body, body-build, bones, border, bordure, bound, box in, brand, breed, brew, brim, bring forth, bring into being, brink, brow, build, building, bushing, cabal, cadre, calculate, call into being, carcass, cartridge, carve, case, casement, casing, cast, character, characteristic, characteristics, chassis, chisel, clay, clod, coast, coin, collude, color film, color negative film, complexion, complot, compose, composition, compound, conceive, concert, concoct, condition, configuration, conformation, connive, conspire, constituents, constitution, construct, construction, context, contrive, cook up, corpus, couch, couch in terms, countermine, counterplot, crasis, create, creation, cue, cut, cut out, dado, design, develop, devise, dharma, diathesis, discover, disposition, doorframe, dope, draft, draw up, dream up, dry plate, edge, edging, efform, elaborate, elevate, embody in words, emulsion, enclose, enframe, engender, engineer, entrap, erect, ethos, evolve, exoskeleton, express, extrude, fabric, fabricate, fabrication, false witness, fashion, fashioning, featheredge, fiber, figuration, figure, film, finagle, finesse, fix, flange, flesh, foot, footing, forecast, forge, forging, form, formalize, format, formation, formularize, formulate, found, foundation, frame of mind, frame up, frame-up, framework, framing, fringe, fudge together, generate, genius, genre, get up, getup, give being to, give expression to, give rise to, give words to, grain, habit, hatch, hatch a plot, hatch up, heart, hem, hew, hue, hulk, humor, humors, ilk, impression, improvise, indite, infrastructure, inner form, intend, intrigue, invent, keel, kind, knead, knock out, labellum, labium, labrum, lap, lattice, latticework, lay a plot, lay out, lay plans, layout, ledge, lick into shape, limb, limbus, line, lip, list, machinate, make, make a projection, make arrangements, make do with, make up, makeup, making, maneuver, manufacture, march, marge, margin, marginate, material body, matrix, mature, methodize, microfilm, mind, mint, modality, mode, model, mold, molding, monochromatic film, mood, mopboard, morale, motion-picture film, mould, mount, mounting, nadir, nature, negative, note, operate, order, organic structure, organism, organization, organize, originate, orthochromatic film, pack, pack the deal, panchromatic film, paragraph, patch together, pattern, patterning, person, photographic paper, phrase, physical body, physique, picture frame, piece together, plan, plan ahead, plate, plot, prearrange, preconcert, precontrive, predesign, prefabricate, premeditate, preorder, prepare, present, printing paper, procreate, produce, production, program, project, property, prototype, purfle, purl, put, put in words, put together, put up, put-up job, quality, ragged edge, raise, rationalize, rear, rhetorize, rig, rim, roll, rough out, roughcast, roughhew, run up, sash, scaffolding, schedule, schema, schematize, scheme, sculpt, sculpture, selvage, set, set off, set out, set up, setting, setup, sew up, shape, shaping, shell, shoemold, shore, side, sideline, significant form, skeleton, skirt, sole, soma, somatotype, sort, sound film, sound track, sound-on-film, soundstripe, spawn, spirit, spirits, stack the cards, stamp, state, state of mind, streak, strike out, stripe, structure, structuring, style, suchness, support, system, systematize, tailor, tectonics, temper, temperament, tendency, tenor, texture, thermoform, think out, think up, tissue, toe, tone, torso, trap, trim, tripack, trunk, turn, type, underframe, vamp up, vehicle, vein, verge, wainscot, wangle, warp and woof, way, weave, web, whomp up, window case, window frame, word, work, work out, work up, write

ROGET THESAURUS

Frame

Plan

VB plan, scheme, design, frame, contrive, project, forecast, sketch, devise, invent, set one's wits to work, spring a project, fall upon, hit upon, strike out, chalk out, cut out, lay out, map out, lay down a plan, shape out a course, mark out a course, predetermine, concert, preconcert, preestablish, prepare, hatch, hatch a plot concoct, take steps, take measures, cast, recast, systematize, organize, arrange, digest, mature, plot, counter-plot, counter-mine, dig a mine, lay a train, intrigue.

State

N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.

Production

VB produce, perform, operate, do, make, gar, form, construct, fabricate, frame, contrive, manufacture, weave, forge, coin, carve, chisel, build, raise, edify, rear, erect, put together, set up, run up, establish, constitute, compose, organize, institute, achieve, accomplish, flower, bear fruit, fructify, teem, ean, yean, farrow, drop, pup, kitten, kindle, bear, lay, whelp, bring forth, give birth to, lie in, be brought to bed of, evolve, pullulate, usher into the world, make productive, create, beget, get, generate, fecundate, impregnate, procreate, progenerate, propagate, engender, bring into being, call into being, bring into existence, breed, hatch, develop, bring up, induce, superinduce, suscitate, cause, acquire.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Edge

N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.

Form

N form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration, make, formation, frame, construction, cut, set, build, trim, cut of one's jib, stamp, type, cast, mold, fashion, contour, structure, plasmature, feature, lineament, turn, phase, posture, attitude, pose, morphism, isomorphism, forming, formation, figuration, efformation, sculpture, plasmation, formed, plastic, fictile, formative, fluid, plasmic, isomorphous, pleomorphic, protean, changeable.

Materiality

N materiality, materialness, corporeity, corporality, substantiality, substantialness, flesh and blood, plenum, physical condition, matter, body, substance, brute matter, stuff, element, principle, parenchyma, material, substratum, hyle, corpus, pabulum, frame, object, article, thing, something, still life, stocks and stones, materials, physics, somatology, somatics, natural philosophy, experimental philosophy, physicism, physical science, philosophie positive, materialism, materialist, physicist, somatism, somatist, material, bodily, corporeal, corporal, physical, somatic, somatoscopic, sensible, tangible, ponderable, palpable, substantial, objective, impersonal, nonsubjective, neuter, unspiritual, materialistic.

Texture

N texture, structure (form), organization, anatomy, frame, mold, fabric, construction, framework, carcass, architecture, stratification, cleavage, substance, stuff, compages, parenchyma, constitution, staple, organism, organography, osteology, myology, splanchnology, neurology, angiography, adeology, angiography, adenography, texture, surface texture, intertexture, contexture, tissue, grain, web, surface, warp and woof, warp and weft, tooth, nap, flatness (smoothness), fineness of grain, coarseness of grain, dry goods, silk, satin, muslin, burlap, histology, structural, organic, anatomic, anatomical, textural, textile, fine grained, coarse grained, fine, delicate, subtile, gossamery, filmy, silky, satiny, coarse, homespun, rough, gritty, smooth, smooth as silk, smooth as satin.