picture frame

Học thuật
Thân thiện
picture frame

A family hangs a picture frame on the living room wall.

Definition

Noun: A rigid structure, typically made of wood, metal, or plastic, that surrounds and supports a picture, painting, or photograph. Its primary functions are to protect the artwork, enhance its visual presentation, and provide a means for hanging it on a wall.

Usage

The term "picture frame" refers specifically to the object that holds and borders a picture. It is a compound noun where "picture" describes the type of "frame." It is used as a countable noun.

Examples
  • She chose a simple wooden picture frame for the family photograph.
  • The ornate gold picture frame complemented the classical portrait perfectly.
  • All the picture frames in the gallery were uniform and minimalist.
Advanced Usage
  • "To frame a picture": This is the verbal phrase meaning to place a picture into a frame.
    • We need to frame this picture before we can hang it.
  • The concept can be used metaphorically to describe something that provides a border or context.
    • The large window acted as a natural picture frame for the landscape outside.
Variants and Related Words
  • Frame (noun): A more general term for a rigid structure that surrounds or supports something (e.g., window frame, door frame, eyeglass frame). "Picture frame" is a specific type of frame.
  • Framing (noun): The process, technique, or materials used to frame something.
    • The framing of the artwork was done by a professional.
  • Mat (or Mount) (noun): A decorative cardboard border often placed between the picture and the frame.
    • The photograph looked better with a white mat inside the picture frame.
Synonyms
  • Border
  • Surround
  • Setting (when referring to how it presents the picture)
Related Phrases
  • In the frame: An idiom meaning being considered for a role, position, or as a suspect.
    • He is in the frame for the promotion. (Note: This idiom is related to the general word "frame," not specifically "picture frame.")
picture frame

A family hangs a picture frame on the living room wall.

Noun
  1. a framework in which a picture is mounted