frame
frame — verb
1. To put a picture, photograph, or similar item inside a solid border with a glass
To put a picture, photograph, or similar item inside a solid border with a glass or plastic front, so that it can be displayed on a wall.
Padma took her wedding photograph to the shop and asked to have it framed.
frame + [object] + at a shop
The art gallery frames every painting in simple wooden borders.
passive: framed in + [material]
Kenji spent the weekend framing his collection of butterfly specimens.
spend + time + framing + [collection]
A framed certificate hung on the wall behind the reception desk.
framed + [noun] as adjective modifier
- frame a photograph
- frame a painting
- framed picture
- framed certificate
- have something framed
Grammar Patterns
frame + noun phrase (a picture / a photograph / a painting)
Common Mistakes
2. To form a natural or decorative border around something, making the whole scene
To form a natural or decorative border around something, making the whole scene or object look more attractive.
From the cabin windows, tall pine trees framed the view of the lake.
be framed by + [natural feature]
A curtain of dark hair framed her face as she looked down at the book.
[hair] frames [face]
The entrance to the old temple is framed by two large stone arches.
passive: framed by + [architectural feature]
With a warm golden glow, the setting sun framed the mountain peaks.
- trees frame a view
- hair frames a face
- framed by mountains
- framed by arches
Grammar Patterns
be framed by + noun phrase
frame + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often in passive voice: 'be framed by [something]'. Subject is typically a natural feature, hair, or architecture.
3. To produce false evidence or give dishonest information so that an innocent pers
To produce false evidence or give dishonest information so that an innocent person is wrongly thought to have broken the law.
The police officer was accused of framing an innocent man for the robbery.
frame + [person] + for + [crime]
João insisted someone had framed him by planting stolen goods in his car.
According to the defence lawyer, the evidence was planted to frame her client.
evidence planted to frame + [person]
In the crime novel, the detective's partner tries to frame him for murder.
- frame someone for
- get framed
- planted evidence to frame
- frame an innocent person
- set up
informal; similar meaning but broader — can also mean arranging a meeting or deal
- incriminate falsely
more formal and explicit about the false nature
- exonerate
formal; means to show someone is innocent
Grammar Patterns
frame + someone + for + crime
Usage Note
Common in legal and crime contexts. Often used with 'for' to indicate the alleged crime.
Common Mistakes
4. To present an idea or situation from a chosen viewpoint so that people form a pa
To present an idea or situation from a chosen viewpoint so that people form a particular opinion about it.
The charity framed the issue as a matter of basic human rights.
frame + [issue] + as + [noun phrase]
Linh framed her question carefully so the manager would not feel attacked.
By presenting tax increases as investments, politicians frame the debate in their favour.
frame + [debate] + as + [noun phrase]
The article frames the choice around whether technology helps or harms children.
- frame an issue
- frame a debate
- frame a question
- frame as
- frame in terms of
Grammar Patterns
frame + noun phrase + as + noun phrase / adjective
frame + noun phrase + in + noun phrase
Usage Note
The object is usually an abstract noun such as issue, question, debate, problem, or choice. Frequently followed by 'as' to state the perspective being promoted.
Common Mistakes
5. To choose particular words to say or write something, with careful attention to
To choose particular words to say or write something, with careful attention to exactness, politeness, or effect.
The ambassador framed his response diplomatically to avoid offending either side.
frame + [response/speech] + [adverb]
Heather framed the apology so that it sounded sincere but not desperate.
The contract was framed in legal language that only a lawyer could understand.
passive: framed in + [type of language]
Anthony framed the invitation as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
- frame a response
- frame a reply
- carefully framed
- frame in language
- frame diplomatically
Grammar Patterns
frame + noun phrase + adverb
be framed in + [language type]
Usage Note
Frequently takes an adverb (diplomatically, carefully, neutrally) or a prepositional phrase beginning with 'in' describing the type of language used.
Common Mistakes
frame — noun
1. an edge made of wood, metal, or plastic that goes around a picture, mirror, wind
an edge made of wood, metal, or plastic that goes around a picture, mirror, window, or door to hold it in place or improve its appearance
Bilal bought a wooden frame for the painting from his grandmother.
The window frame needs to be repaired because the wood is rotting.
collocation: window frame
Lara chose a simple black frame for her wedding photograph.
The door frame was painted white to match the new wall colour.
collocation: door frame
Jiwoo carefully hung the mirror back into its original frame.
- picture frame
- window frame
- door frame
- wooden frame
- black frame
- gold frame
- border
more general — a frame is a specific type of border that surrounds and supports
2. the ring of material around each lens in eyewear that secures it in position — t
the ring of material around each lens in eyewear that secures it in position — these rings are often made from metal or plastic
Christopher tried on several different frames before choosing a pair.
collocation: try on frames
After Nora accidentally sat on her glasses, the metal frame bent out of shape.
Zola picked bright red frames because she wanted her glasses to stand out.
These titanium frames are very light and comfortable to wear all day.
collocation: titanium frames
- glasses frames
- metal frames
- plastic frames
- titanium frames
- frame shape
- spectacles frame
more formal — used mainly in British English in official contexts
Usage Note
Often used in the plural (frames) when referring to the pair as a whole, even though it is a single object.
Common Mistakes
3. the strong inner core of a house, a vehicle, or an item of furniture — all the o
the strong inner core of a house, a vehicle, or an item of furniture — all the other parts are attached to it, giving the object its basic shape
The frame of the new house was completed before the rainy season began.
collocation: frame of a house
Padma bought a bicycle with a lightweight aluminium frame for her daily ride to school.
collocation: aluminium frame
The bed frame is made of solid oak and should last for many years.
collocation: bed frame
Workers first built the steel frame of the skyscraper, then added the outer walls.
collocation: steel frame
Anya's sofa has a strong wooden frame covered with large soft cushions.
collocation: wooden frame
- building frame
- bike frame
- bed frame
- steel frame
- wooden frame
- aluminium frame
- frame construction
Usage Note
Subject is typically a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture. When describing buildings, 'frame' often refers to the internal structure before walls or finishes are added.
4. a triangle-shaped tool, made of wood or strong plastic, used in billiards and sn
a triangle-shaped tool, made of wood or strong plastic, used in billiards and snooker to position the balls in a tight group before each game
Pim placed the triangular frame over the balls and lifted it to begin the game.
collocation: triangular frame
The plastic frame cracked after a player dropped it on the tiled floor.
The referee used the triangular frame to arrange the balls before each round.
A standard snooker frame holds fifteen red balls and six coloured balls.
collocation: snooker frame
- snooker frame
- triangular frame
- plastic frame
- wooden frame
- racking frame
- triangle
shorter and more common in casual conversation; 'frame' is more technical
Usage Note
Do not confuse with 'frame' meaning a single period of play in snooker (sense 8). This sense refers to the physical object used to set up the balls.
5. the size and general shape of a person's body, especially the bone structure
the size and general shape of a person's body, especially the bone structure
Ingrid's small frame helped her move easily through the busy market.
The shop sells winter coats designed for people with a larger frame.
collocation: larger frame
Despite his slender frame, Ilan managed to carry the heavy suitcase upstairs.
collocation: slender frame
The doctor said the patient's frame was well suited for the sport.
The jacket is cut for someone with a tall, athletic frame.
collocation: athletic frame
- small frame
- large frame
- slender frame
- broad frame
- athletic frame
- tall frame
Usage Note
Focuses on bone structure and overall size rather than weight or muscle condition. Usually modified by an adjective (small, large, slender, broad, athletic).
6. a particular emotional or mental state that affects the way a person thinks, fee
a particular emotional or mental state that affects the way a person thinks, feels, or behaves at a given time
After a good night's sleep, Paloma woke up in a more positive frame of mind.
idiom: frame of mind + adjective
The teacher's encouraging words put her students in a confident frame of mind.
Problems are hard to solve when you are not in the right frame of mind.
idiom: in the right frame of mind
The peaceful music helped everyone get into a relaxed frame of mind for the exam.
- frame of mind
- positive frame of mind
- right frame of mind
- relaxed frame of mind
- confident frame of mind
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'frame of mind' followed by an adjective (positive, relaxed, confident, right, etc.). Singular only — no plural form for this meaning.
Common Mistakes
7. a system of beliefs, values, or experiences that a person uses as a way of under
a system of beliefs, values, or experiences that a person uses as a way of understanding events and making judgments — for example, a cultural frame that shapes how someone sees politeness, or a professional frame that influences how a doctor evaluates symptoms.
Growing up in a small town gave Tuan a unique frame for understanding city life.
frame + for + gerund
The book proposes a new frame for thinking about environmental problems in Southeast Asia.
Cultural background often provides the frame through which people judge what is fair.
frame + through which + clause
Selim's educational frame led him to value hands-on training over textbook theories.
- frame of reference
- cultural frame
- moral frame
- conceptual frame
- social frame
- framework
broader term; 'framework' suggests a more structured system while 'frame' is often abstract
- perspective
focuses on the viewpoint itself rather than the underlying system of beliefs
- worldview
a more complete belief system covering all aspects of life, often tied to philosophy or religion
Grammar Patterns
frame + for + noun/gerund
frame + of + reference
Usage Note
Frequently followed by 'of reference' to form the fixed phrase 'frame of reference,' which is more common than the bare noun in this sense.
Common Mistakes
8. a complete round of play within sports like snooker and bowling, ending after ev
a complete round of play within sports like snooker and bowling, ending after every shot in that round has been taken
Ravindra won the first frame of snooker with a break of 78 points.
frame + of + [sport]
Nora bowled three strikes in a single frame and finished with a score of 250.
The snooker match lasted seven frames before Iker finally claimed the championship trophy.
In ten-pin bowling, each frame gives you two attempts to knock down all the pins.
each frame + gives you + [number] + attempts
- win a frame
- lose a frame
- first frame
- final frame
- single frame
- round
more general term; used in boxing, golf, and other sports, but 'round' is not specific to snooker or bowling
Grammar Patterns
frame + of + [sport]
ordinal + frame
Usage Note
Common in British English for snooker; in bowling, the term is universal. Avoid using 'frame' for time periods in sports such as soccer or tennis.
Common Mistakes
9. one of the nine periods in a baseball game during which both teams take turns ba
one of the nine periods in a baseball game during which both teams take turns batting and fielding
The home team scored four runs in the first frame of the baseball game.
frame + of + the game
Vinícius pitched three perfect frames and struck out six opposing batters.
With two outs in the final frame, the catcher hit a game-winning double.
The manager told the players to focus on winning one frame at a time.
one frame at a time
- first frame
- final frame
- top of the frame
- bottom of the frame
- score in a frame
- inning
the standard formal term; 'frame' is informal and more common in spoken commentary
Grammar Patterns
ordinal + frame
frame + of + the game
Usage Note
An informal alternative to 'inning,' common in baseball commentary and reporting. Use 'inning' in formal writing or official scorekeeping.
Common Mistakes
10. one of the many separate still images that, when shown in quick succession, make
one of the many separate still images that, when shown in quick succession, make up a film, video, or animation
The film's opening frame shows a bird flying over a quiet lake at sunrise.
possessive: [film]'s + frame
Animators draw twenty-four separate frames for each single second of the movie.
Christopher paused the video on a single frame to examine the background details carefully.
Each frame of the old photograph strip captured a different member of the Watanabe family.
frame + of + [photographic medium]
Digital video records sixty frames per second for smooth, lifelike motion.
frames per second
- frames per second
- single frame
- freeze a frame
- per frame
- key frame
- video frame
Grammar Patterns
per frame
frame + of + [film/photograph]
number + frames + per second
Usage Note
Motion picture film typically runs at 24 frames per second; digital video varies from 24 to 60 or more. In photography, 'frame' can also refer to one image on a roll of film.
Common Mistakes
frame of mind
idiomthe emotional or mental state someone is in at a particular time, which affects how they think and behave
Paloma was in a positive frame of mind after hearing the good news.
You need to be in the right frame of mind before making an important decision.
To be considered or not considered as a possible participant or candidate for something.
After her strong performance, Maya is in the frame for the lead role.
Diego was out of the frame for the promotion after the incident.
frame — adjective
1. describes a building or other structure whose main supporting skeleton is made o
describes a building or other structure whose main supporting skeleton is made of wood, rather than being built from bricks, stone, or concrete
The old frame house survived the earthquake better than the brick buildings nearby.
attributive: frame + house
Builders used a wooden frame structure for the new community centre on Elm Street.
attributive: frame + structure
Many frame houses in this area were built over a hundred years ago.
The Watanabe family bought a charming frame cottage near the lake last spring.
collocation: frame cottage
Unlike concrete apartments, a frame building can be easier to repair after a storm.
- frame house
- frame building
- frame structure
- frame cottage
- frame construction
- timber-framed
more specific — emphasises timber as the construction material rather than any wood
- wood-framed
interchangeable with 'frame' but more explicit about the material
Grammar Patterns
frame + noun (building/house/structure)
Usage Note
Always placed directly before the noun it modifies. Used almost exclusively in construction, architecture, and real-estate contexts. Do not use this adjective for objects that have a decorative or secondary frame — for that meaning, use 'framed' (e.g., 'a framed photograph').
Common Mistakes
Word family
- frameworknounB2
- reframeverbC1
- framingnounB2
- framedadjectiveB1
- framelessadjectiveC1
- frame-upnounC1
- unframedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words refer to the outer boundary of an object, but they differ in function. A 'frame' is a border that both surrounds and supports — it is usually sturdy and holds something in place, such as a picture, mirror, or window. A 'border' is a decorative or dividing line around or near the edge of something (e.g. a border of tiles around a mirror), but it does not necessarily provide structural support. A 'rim' is the outermost edge of a round or curved object, such as a cup, bowl, or wheel — it does not enclose the item the way a frame does. An 'edge' is simply the sharp or thin outer limit of any surface, without the idea of decoration or support. A 'mount' is a backing or support that attaches to something (usually a picture or photograph) to display it, but it may lack the surrounding border that a frame provides. For example, you put a painting in a frame to hang it on the wall, but you might mount a photo on a piece of card without adding any border around it.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'frame' comes from Old English 'framian', meaning 'to profit, avail, or be useful'. By the 13th century, it had developed the sense of 'to make ready, prepare, or construct'. The noun sense of 'a structure that supports or encloses something' arose from the idea of something that has been constructed or built. The verb sense 'to falsely incriminate' (to frame someone) developed in the 19th century and comes from the idea of 'constructing' false evidence. The word is related to Old High German 'fram' (forward, forth) and ultimately traces back to Proto-Germanic *fram- (forward motion, advancement).