framing
/ˈfreɪ.mɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfreɪ.mɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrā-miŋ/ (ame, mw)
framing — noun
- framingsingular
- framingsplural
1. the set of wooden or metal pieces joined together to form the underlying skeleto
the set of wooden or metal pieces joined together to form the underlying skeleton inside a house, a vehicle body, or a heavy item of furniture — everything else is then fixed onto this skeleton.
Hugo finished the framing of the back porch before the autumn rains arrived.
framing of [a structure]
Termites had eaten through most of the framing inside the old farmhouse wall.
framing as the inner skeleton of a wall
The carpenters spent two weeks putting up the framing for the new gym.
Steel framing makes the truck cab much safer in a serious crash.
The architect drew red lines on the blueprint showing exactly where each piece of framing would meet.
文法句型
the framing of [a building/vehicle]
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. Subject is typically a building, vehicle body, or large item of furniture — not small objects.
常見錯誤
2. the work of fitting a decorative wood or metal edge around a picture, mirror, or
the work of fitting a decorative wood or metal edge around a picture, mirror, or certificate, or the finished edge itself.
Selim asked the shop to do the framing of his grandmother's wedding photograph.
the framing of [a picture]
Professional framing for a single oil painting can cost more than the painting itself.
professional framing
The gold framing made the small watercolour look much more expensive.
Renata learned the basics of picture framing from her uncle's craft shop.
The gallery picked simple black framing for every modern photograph on the back wall.
文法句型
the framing of [a picture]
[adjective] framing
用法筆記
Typically uncountable when referring to the activity or general type. Distinguishes from sense 3 (composition) by referring to a physical border rather than the arrangement inside the image.
常見錯誤
3. in photography or film, the way the subject and the surrounding shapes, colours,
in photography or film, the way the subject and the surrounding shapes, colours, and empty space are placed within the picture so that the viewer's eye goes straight to the main thing.
Nila praised the tight framing of the bride in the wedding portrait.
tight framing of [subject]
Good framing keeps the main actor's face clear of any busy background detail.
framing keeps [subject] clear
The director changed the framing of the scene to show more of the empty street.
Sophia studied the framing in every shot of an old black-and-white war film she loved.
Poor framing leaves the speaker's head cut off at the top of the screen.
- composition
broader term covering all visual arts; more formal
- shot
refers to one specific frame; more concrete
文法句型
the framing of [a shot/image]
用法筆記
Domain-specific to visual media (photography, film, video). Distinguishes from sense 2 by referring to internal arrangement of the image rather than a physical border around it.
4. in books or films, a writer's trick of opening and closing the main story with a
in books or films, a writer's trick of opening and closing the main story with a separate scene or narrator that helps the reader make sense of what happens in between.
Christopher used a doctor reading old letters as the framing for the whole novel.
[scene] as the framing for [main story]
The framing of the film, set in a quiet care home, gives extra weight to the old soldier's memories.
framing of [a film]
Élise's short story uses a long train journey as its framing.
First-year literature students rarely notice the framing device until their professor points it out.
Without the village wedding scene as framing, the war flashbacks in the novel would feel disconnected.
- framing device
the full technical term used in literary analysis
- frame story
the outer story containing inner stories; very close in meaning
文法句型
the framing of [a story/novel]
framing device
用法筆記
A literary or cinematic term. Often paired with 'device' — 'framing device' is the most common collocation. Distinguishes from sense 6 by being a structural narrative technique rather than a way of presenting ideas.
5. the exact wording someone picks when they put a question, request, or statement
the exact wording someone picks when they put a question, request, or statement into language, and the effect those particular words have on the listener.
Pim disliked the framing of the survey question, which seemed to push for one answer.
framing of [a question]
Careful framing of a complaint email can stop a customer from getting angry.
careful framing of [a message]
The lawyer thought hard about the framing of every sentence she would say in court.
Lukas changed the framing of his apology so it sounded less defensive.
Even the framing of a nursing job advert can decide whether mostly women apply.
文法句型
the framing of [a question/sentence]
用法筆記
Focuses on word choice and phrasing for a single utterance or text. Distinguishes from sense 6 by being about the surface wording, not the underlying ideas or worldview behind it.
常見錯誤
6. the set of ideas, values, and assumptions a speaker attaches to a topic so that
the set of ideas, values, and assumptions a speaker attaches to a topic so that listeners end up thinking about it in one particular way rather than another.
Rodrigo argued that media framing of the protests made the protesters look violent.
media framing of [an event]
The framing of climate change as a future problem makes voters worry less about it today.
framing of [a topic] as [X]
Folake studies how political framing shapes public opinion during elections.
Two newspapers gave the strike completely opposite framing on their front pages.
Changing the framing of the new bridge from cost to investment helped the proposal win council support.
文法句型
the framing of [an issue/debate]
用法筆記
Common in journalism, politics, and social science. Distinguishes from sense 5 by being about the broader ideological angle, not the literal words. Often modified by 'media', 'political', 'positive', 'negative'.
7. the dishonest act of planting false evidence or telling lies about someone so th
the dishonest act of planting false evidence or telling lies about someone so that police and courts wrongly believe that person committed an offence they had nothing to do with.
Eli's lawyer claimed the framing of his client was carried out by a corrupt detective.
framing of [a person]
The documentary exposed the framing of three innocent men by the local police.
framing of [innocent people] by [someone]
Hyun spent twelve years in prison before the framing was finally proved in court.
Stefan suspected a deliberate framing as soon as the stolen jewellery appeared in his locker.
The novel begins with the framing of a young teacher for the murder of his neighbour.
文法句型
the framing of [a person]
用法筆記
Always negative. Subject of 'framing' is typically a police officer, criminal, or rival. Object is the wrongly-accused person. Distinguishes from sense 6 by involving actual criminal-justice procedure, not just public opinion.