framework

/ˌfreɪmˈwʌrk/

/ˈfreɪmwək/

Other forms: frameworks

Framework refers to the initial structure of a building. If you ever wanted to walk through walls, you can get your chance when a new house has just the framework done, because the house will have walls with openings for windows and doors but no plaster or siding.

From the literal meaning of framework — the initial structure of a building — English added figurative meanings. The noun framework, for example, can be any underlying structure something is built on, so you will see examples like: a framework for solving the problem, a framework for the computer program, and a framework for a new relationship.

Definitions of framework

1. noun

   the underlying structure
   “providing a factual framework for future research”

   synonyms: fabric

   types:

   armature

   the underlying framework of something immaterial, especially a literary work

   type of:

   structure

   the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts
2. noun

   a structure supporting or containing something
   types:

   airframe

   the framework and covering of an airplane or rocket (excluding the engines)

   arbor, arbour, bower, pergola

   a framework that supports climbing plants

   bustle

   a framework worn at the back below the waist for giving fullness to a woman's skirt

   case, casing

   the enclosing frame around a door or window opening

   climbing frame

   a framework of bars or logs for children to climb on

   clotheshorse

   a framework on which to hang clothes (as for drying)

   coaming

   a raised framework around a hatchway on a ship to keep water out

   cornice, pelmet, valance, valance board

   a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing

   deckle

   (paper making) a frame used to form paper pulp into sheets

   derrick

   a framework erected over an oil well to allow drill tubes to be raised and lowered

   doorcase, doorframe

   the frame that supports a door

   buffer, cowcatcher, fender, pilot

   an inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track

   frame, framing

   a framework that supports and protects a picture or a mirror

   frame

   the framework for a pair of eyeglasses

   gantry, gauntry

   a framework of steel bars raised on side supports to bridge over or around something; can display railway signals above several tracks or can support a traveling crane etc.

   grate, grating

   a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

   grill, grille, grillwork

   a framework of metal bars used as a partition or a grate

   gun carriage

   a framework on which a gun is mounted for firing

   handbarrow

   a rectangular frame with handles at both ends; carried by two people

   hayrack, hayrig

   a frame attached to a wagon to increase the amount of hay it can carry

   honeycomb

   a framework of hexagonal cells resembling the honeycomb built by bees

   fretwork, lattice, latticework

   framework consisting of an ornamental design made of strips of wood or metal

   mounting

   framework used for support or display

   oxbow

   a wooden framework bent in the shape of a U; its upper ends are attached to the horizontal yoke and the loop goes around the neck of an ox

   picture frame

   a framework in which a picture is mounted

   rack

   framework for holding objects

   ribbing

   a framework of ribs

   sash, window sash

   a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame

   buck, horse, sawbuck, sawhorse

   a framework for holding wood that is being sawed

   stocks

   a frame for constraining an animal while it is receiving veterinary attention or while being shod

   stocks

   a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction

   stretcher

   a wooden framework on which canvas is stretched and fixed for oil painting

   embroidery frame, embroidery hoop, tambour

   a frame made of two hoops; used for embroidering

   tenter

   a framework with hooks used for stretching and drying cloth

   truss

   a framework of beams (rafters, posts, struts) forming a rigid structure that supports a roof or bridge or other structure

   undercarriage

   framework that serves as a support for the body of a vehicle

   baby-walker, go-cart, walker

   an enclosing framework on casters or wheels; helps babies learn to walk

   Zimmer, Zimmer frame, walker

   a light enclosing framework (trade name Zimmer) with rubber castors or wheels and handles; helps invalids or the handicapped or the aged to walk

   wattle

   framework consisting of stakes interwoven with branches to form a fence

   window

   a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

   window frame

   the framework that supports a window

   armature

   a framework on which a sculptor molds a sculpture made of clay or a similar material

   BBQ, barbecue, barbeque

   a rack to hold meat for cooking over hot charcoal usually out of doors

   barbette carriage

   a gun carriage elevated so that the gun can be fired over the parapet

   bay window, bow window

   a window that sticks out from the outside wall of a house

   bicycle rack

   a rack for parking bicycles

   carrier

   a rack attached to a vehicle; for carrying luggage or skis or the like

   casement

   a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)

   casement window

   a window with one or more casements

   chase

   a rectangular metal frame used in letterpress printing to hold together the pages or columns of composed type that are printed at one time

   chassis

   a metal mounting for the circuit components of an electronic device

   clearstory, clerestory

   part of an interior wall rising above the adjacent roof with windows admitting light

   coat rack, coatrack, hatrack

   a rack with hooks for temporarily holding coats and hats

   dish rack

   a rack for holding dishes as dishwater drains off of them

   display window, shop window, shopwindow, show window

   a window of a store facing onto the street; used to display merchandise for sale in the store

   dormer, dormer window

   a gabled extension built out from a sloping roof to accommodate a vertical window

   dormer window

   the window in a gabled extension built to accommodate a window

   double glazing

   a window with two panes of glass and a space between them; reduces heat and noise transmission through the window

   double-hung window

   a window having two sashes that slide up and down

   fanlight

   a semicircular window over a door or window; usually has sash bars like the ribs of a fan

   grape arbor, grape arbour

   an arbor where grapes are grown

   hayrack

   a rack that holds hay for feeding livestock

   lancet window

   a narrow window having a lancet arch and without tracery

   landing gear

   an undercarriage that supports the weight of the plane when it is on the ground

   jalousie, louvered window

   a window with glass louvers

   mat, matting

   mounting consisting of a border or background for a picture

   mount, setting

   a mounting consisting of a piece of metal (as in a ring or other jewelry) that holds a gem in place

   oeil de boeuf

   a circular or oval window; 17th or 18th century French architecture

   passe-partout

   a mounting for a picture using gummed tape

   picture window

   a large window with a single pane (usually overlooking a view)

   pipe rack

   a rack for holding a smoker's pipes

   pivoting window

   a window that opens by pivoting either horizontally or vertically

   plate rack

   a rack for holding plates to dry after they have been washed

   porthole

   a window in a ship or airplane

   rose window, rosette

   circular window filled with tracery

   sash window

   a window with (usually two) sashes that slide vertically to let in air

   fanlight, skylight

   a window in a roof to admit daylight

   sliding window

   a window that open by sliding horizontally

   stained-glass window

   a window made of stained glass

   storm sash, storm window

   a window outside an ordinary window to protect against severe weather or winter

   tie rack

   a rack for storing ties

   toastrack

   a rack for holding slices of toast

   towel horse, towel rack

   a rack consisting of one or more bars on which towels can be hung

   fanlight, transom, transom window

   a window above a door that is usually hinged to a horizontal crosspiece over the door

   treillage, trellis

   latticework used to support climbing plants

   trestle

   sawhorses used in pairs to support a horizontal tabletop

   type of:

   supporting structure

   a structure that serves to support something
3. noun

   a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
   synonyms: model, theoretical account

   types:

   computer simulation, simulation

   (computer science) the technique of representing the real world by a computer program

   mean sun

   a theoretical sun that moves along the celestial equator at a constant speed and completes its annual course in the same amount of time the real sun takes at variable speeds

   Copernican system

   (astronomy) Copernicus' astronomical model in which the Earth rotates around the sun

   Ptolemaic system

   (astronomy) Ptolemy's model of the universe with the Earth at the center

   M-theory

   (particle physics) a theory that involves an eleven-dimensional universe in which the weak and strong forces and gravity are unified and to which all the string theories belong

   string theory

   (particle physics) a theory that postulates that subatomic particles are one-dimensional strings

   stochastic process

   a statistical process involving a number of random variables depending on a variable parameter (which is usually time)

   Markoff process, Markov process

   a simple stochastic process in which the distribution of future states depends only on the present state and not on how it arrived in the present state

   random walk

   a stochastic process consisting of a sequence of changes each of whose characteristics (as magnitude or direction) is determined by chance

   stationary stochastic process

   a stochastic process in which the distribution of the random variables is the same for any value of the variable parameter

   type of:

   hypothesis, possibility, theory

   a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena