frank1

[frangk] /fræŋk/
adjective, franker, frankest.
1.
direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere:
Her criticism of my work was frank but absolutely fair.
2.
without inhibition or subterfuge; direct; undisguised:
a frank appeal for financial aid.
3.
Pathology. unmistakable; clinically evident:
frank blood.
4.
Archaic. liberal or generous.
5.
Obsolete, free.
noun
6.
a signature or mark affixed by special privilege to a letter, package, or the like to ensure its transmission free of charge, as by mail.
7.
the privilege of franking letters, packages, etc.
8.
a franked letter, package, etc.
verb (used with object)
9.
to mark (a letter, package, etc.) for transmission free of the usual charge, by virtue of official or special privilege; send free of charge, as mail.
10.
to convey (a person) free of charge.
11.
to enable to pass or go freely:
to frank a visitor through customs.
12.
to facilitate the comings and goings of (a person), especially in society:
A sizable inheritance will frank you faster than anything else.
13.
to secure exemption for.
14.
Carpentry. to assemble (millwork, as sash bars) with a miter joint through the moldings and a butt joint or mortise-and-tenon joint for the rest.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English < Old French franc < Late Latin francus free, orig. Frank
Related forms
frankable, adjective
franker, noun
Synonyms
1. unrestrained, free, bold, uninhibited. Frank, candid, open, outspoken imply a freedom and boldness in speaking. Frank is applied to one unreserved in expressing the truth and to one's real opinions and sentiments: a frank analysis of a personal problem. Candid suggests that one is sincere and truthful or impartial and fair in judgment, sometimes unpleasantly so: a candid expression of opinion. Open implies a lack of reserve or of concealment: open antagonism. Outspoken applies to a person who expresses himself or herself freely, even when this is inappropriate: an outspoken and unnecessary show of disapproval.
Antonyms
1. restrained.

frank2

[frangk] /fræŋk/
noun, Informal.
1.
frankfurter.
Origin
1900-05, Americanism; by shortening

Frank

[frangk] /fræŋk/
noun
1.
a member of a group of ancient Germanic peoples dwelling in the regions of the Rhine, one division of whom, the Salians, conquered Gaul about a.d. 500, founded an extensive kingdom, and gave origin to the name France.
2.
(in the Levant) any native of western Europe.
Origin
before 900; Middle English Franke, Old English Franca (cognate with Old High German Franko), perhaps from the Germanic base of Old English franka spear, javelin, a weapon allegedly favored by the Franks

Frank

[frangk, frahngk; Russian, frahnk; German frahngk] /fræŋk, frɑŋk; Russian, frɑnk; German frɑŋk/
noun
1.
Anne, 1929–45, German Jewish girl who died in Belsen concentration camp in Germany: her diaries about her family hiding from Nazis in Amsterdam (1942–44) published in 1947.
2.
Ilya Mikhailovich
[ee-lyah myi-khahy-luh-vyich] /iˌlyɑ myɪˈxaɪ lə vyɪtʃ/ (Show IPA), 1908–90, Russian physicist: Nobel Prize 1958.
3.
Leonhard
[ley-awn-hahrt] /ˈleɪ ɔn hɑrt/ (Show IPA), 1882–1961, German novelist.
4.
Robert, born 1924, U.S. photographer and filmmaker, born in Switzerland.
5.
Waldo, 1889–1967, U.S. novelist and social critic.
6.
a male given name, form of Francis or Franklin.

Frank.

1.
Frankish.
Examples from the web for frank
  • They do things in frank disregard for the pieties and preferences of the higher-ed establishment.
  • Apologies for my blunt language, but it speaks of frank ignorance.
  • They prefer well-designed forms and bright frank colour.
  • Shriver's prose is frank and often beautiful, which renders her frequent diatribes more nuanced and persuasive.
  • Tells about his habit of making frank self-evaluations.
  • He alleged that his four companions had died natural deaths, but he was frank about having eaten them.
  • We have had many exhilarating talks, have exchanged many frank letters.
  • Surely, a frank investigation would uncover not only some monsters but also a good number of heroes.
  • frank held the family together, going to work every day.
  • She later decides that frank is the one she wants to be with and they begin dating again.
British Dictionary definitions for frank

frank

/fræŋk/
adjective
1.
honest and straightforward in speech or attitude: a frank person
2.
outspoken or blunt
3.
open and avowed; undisguised: frank interest
4.
an obsolete word for free, generous
verb (transitive)
5.
(mainly Brit) to put a mark on (a letter, parcel, etc), either cancelling the postage stamp or in place of a stamp, ensuring free carriage See also postmark
6.
to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an official mark or signature, indicating the right of free delivery
7.
to facilitate or assist (a person) to come and go, pass, or enter easily
8.
to obtain immunity for or exempt (a person)
noun
9.
an official mark or signature affixed to a letter, parcel, etc, ensuring free delivery or delivery without stamps
10.
the privilege, issued to certain people and establishments, entitling them to delivery without postage stamps
Derived Forms
frankable, adjective
franker, noun
frankness, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French franc, from Medieval Latin francus free; identical with Frank (in Frankish Gaul only members of this people enjoyed full freedom)

Frank1

/fræŋk/
noun
1.
a member of a group of West Germanic peoples who spread from the east bank of the middle Rhine into the Roman Empire in the late 4th century ad, gradually conquering most of Gaul and Germany. The Franks achieved their greatest power under Charlemagne
Word Origin
Old English Franca; related to Old High German Franko; perhaps from the name of a typical Frankish weapon (compare Old English franca javelin)

Frank2

/Dutch fraŋk/
noun
1.
Anne. 1929–45, German Jewess, whose Diary (1947) recorded the experiences of her family while in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam (1942–44). They were betrayed and she died in a concentration camp
2.
Robert. born 1924, US photographer and film maker, born in Switzerland; best known for his photographic book The Americans (1959)
Word Origin and History for frank
adj.

c.1300, "free, liberal, generous," from Old French franc "free (not servile), sincere, genuine, open, gracious; worthy" (12c.), from Medieval Latin Franc "a freeman, a Frank" (see Frank). The connection is that only Franks, as the conquering class, had the status of freemen. Sense of "outspoken" first recorded in English 1540s.

n.

short for frankfurter, by 1916, American English. Franks and beans attested by 1953.

v.

"to free a letter for carriage or an article for publication," 1708, from shortened form of French affranchir, from the same source as frank (adj.). Related: Franked; franking.

Frank

one of the Germanic people that conquered Celtic Gaul from the Romans c.500 C.E. and made it into France, from Frankish *Frank (cf. Old High German Franko, Old English Franca). The origin of the ethnic name is uncertain; it traditionally is said to be from the old Germanic word *frankon "javelin, lance" (cf. Old English franca), their preferred weapon, but the reverse may be the case. Cf. also Saxon, traditionally from root of Old English seax "knife." In the Levant, this was the name given to anyone of Western nationality (cf. Feringhee).

frank in Medicine

frank (frānk)
adj. frank·er, frank·est
Clearly manifest; clinically evident.

Slang definitions & phrases for frank

frank

noun

A frankfurter; weenie (1920s+)


frank in Technology


["Using BINS for Interprocess Communication", P.C.J. Graham, SIGPLAN Notices 20(2):32-41 (Feb 1985)].
(1995-01-13)

Related Abbreviations for frank

Frank.

Frankish