a-frame

v. i. 1. To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech. [ Obs. ] Judg. xii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To proceed; to go. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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

n. 1. 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. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

No frames could be strong enough to endure it. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. 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; as: (a) The skeleton structure which supports the boiler and machinery of a locomotive upon its wheels. (b) (Founding) A molding box or flask, which being filled with sand serves as a mold for castings. (c) The ribs and stretchers of an umbrella or other structure with a fabric covering. (d) A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc. (e) (Hort.) A glazed portable structure for protecting young plants from frost. (f) (Print.) A stand to support the type cases for use by the compositor. (f) a pair of glasses without the lenses; that part of a pair of glasses that excludes the lenses. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. (Mach.) 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 ]

5. 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. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Put your discourse into some frame. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. 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 +PJC ]

7. Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

John the bastard
Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. provided with a frame; as, there were framed snapshots of family and friends on her desk. Opposite of unframed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. mood; mental attitude; mental disposition; same as frame{ 6 }. [ PJC ]

n. 1. an arbitrary set of spatial coordinates used to describe the position or motion of objects. The coordinates may be fixed or moving; as, a rotating frame of reference. [ PJC ]

2. a set of assumptions or conditions that are used to discuss or understand something; as, a religious frame of reference. [ PJC ]

n. One who frames; as, the framer of a building; the framers of the Constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Genetics) of, pertaining to, or causing a type of mutation consisting of the insertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides in the nucleic acid structure of a gene, when the number of base pairs inserted or deleted is not a multiple of three. If the addition or deletion occurs in multiples of three, the unaffected nucleotides in the genome remain in the proper order ("frame") to be correctly translated into protein; in such cases of insertions or deletions not causing a frame shift, a functional though altered protein may be produced by the organism. Frameshift mutations cause more profound changes in the composition of the protein resulting from translation of the mutated gene. [ PJC ]

n. A conspiracy or plot for a malicious or evil purpose; especially, an act that incriminates a person on false evidence. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]