- frame
- 1
/freIm/ noun
1 BORDER (C) a firm structure that holds something such as a picture or window, and provides a border for it: Stretch the embroidery on a frame before starting to sew. | door/window/picture frame: He leaned against the door frame.2 STRUCTURE (C) the structure or main supporting parts of a piece of furniture, vehicle, or other object: a bicycle frame | There was nothing wrong with the frame of the chair, just the upholstery.3 BODY (C) the structure formed by the bones of someone's body: Louise's slight frame4 MAIN FACTS/IDEAS (singular) the main ideas, facts etc that something is based on: A clear explanation of the subject provides a frame on which a deeper understanding can be built.5 GLASSES the metal or plastic part of a pair of glasses (glass1 (3)) that holds the lenses (lens1 (1))6 be in a ... frame of mind to have an attitude at a particular time that helps you to do something: Philip, I don't think you're in a proper frame of mind to enter the House of God.7 BOX (C) a large wooden box covered with glass or plastic in which young plants are grown outdoors: cucumber frames8 SPORT (C) a complete part in the games of snooker or bowling: I won the next three frames.9 PHOTOGRAPH (C) an area of a photographic film that contains one photograph, or many of these which together make a cinema or video film—see also: climbing frame 2 verb (T)1 to surround something with a border so that it looks pleasant or so that you can see it clearly: Sarah's long, dark hair framed her face. | be framed by: a courtyard framed by a rectangle of tightly clipped grass2 to put a picture in a structure that will hold it firmly3 to deliberately make someone seem guilty of a crime, by providing things that seem like proof: I'm convinced Murphy's been framed. | frame sb for: He told the court that the police had tried to frame him for assault.4 to organize and develop a plan, system etc: a theory originally framed by Marx5 gilt-framed/wood-framed etc having a frame or frames of a particular colour or material: a red-framed mirror | wire-framed spectacles—see also: frameup
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.