frank

comparative franker · superlative frankest

1. Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.

   May I be frank with you?

   Synonyms: unreserved, undisguised, free-spoken

2. medicineUnmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.

   The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.

3. obsoleteUnbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.

   It is of frank gift.

   1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC

4. obsoleteLiberal; generous; profuse.

   Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

5. derogatoryobsoleteUnrestrained; loose; licentious.

   Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse, And all the champain o're he soared light.

   1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC

plural franks

1. Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).

   October 5, 1780, William Cowper, letter to Rev. William Unwin I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again.

2. The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.

   1 more example

   But, although her friends were kind, Lady Anne was not easy; neither daughter made her appearance, nor did she receive a letter to account for their silence. She remembered, indeed, that Charles Penrhyn could not get franks now, and her daughters knew she would not pay postage; and she had commanded Helen to work night and day, saying, "surely they can give her common materials."

   1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 178–179

present singular third person franks · participle present franking · participle past franked · past franked

1. transitiveTo place a frank on an envelope.

   It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?

   1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 20, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

2. transitiveTo exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
3. transitiveTo send by public conveyance free of expense.

   1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words This required extensive correspondence; so, in the next place, the privilege of franking letters in reference to the emigrants' registration office, was obtained—much to the indignation of red tapists.

plural franks

1. A hot dog or sausage.

   Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.

   4 more examples

   We had a farewell meal of franks and beans in a Seventh Avenue Riker’s, and then Dean got on the bus that said Chicago and roared off into the night.

   1957 September 5, Jack Kerouac, chapter 1, in On the Road, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC, part 1

   I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption!

   1978, Superman: The Movie, spoken by Perry White (Jackie Cooper)

   I'm in my Flavmobile cold lamping. I took a G upstate cold camping. To the Poconos, we call a hideaways. A bag of franks and a bag of Frito-Lays.

   1988 June 28, “Cold Lampin' With Flavor” (track 4), in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed by Public Enemy

   Chicago has a major influence on flavored foods of the Midwest. It’s the home of deep dish-style pizza and the Italian beef sandwich. It’s also the home of the famous frank known as the Chicago-style hot dog. Based on a Vienna all-beef frank, this distinguished dog is typically steamed and served in a warm poppy seed bun topped with mustard, sweet pickle relish, chopped onion, tomato wedges or slices, sport peppers, and a dill pickle spear, then finished off with a dash of celery salt

   2007, Becky Mercuri, The Great American Hot Dog Book: Recipes and Side Dishes from Across America, Gibbs Smith

   Synonyms: frankfurt, frankfurter

plural franks

1. UKThe grey heron.

plural franks

1. A pigsty.

present singular third person franks · participle present franking · participle past franked · past franked

1. To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.

   Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid; He is franked up to fatting for his pains

   c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

plural franks

1. historicalobsoleteObsolete form of franc, former French coins, moneys of account, and currency.

   1 more example

   Frank, or Franc, an ancient coin, either of gold or ſilver, ſtruck and current in France. The value of the gold frank was ſomewhat more than that of the gold crown; the ſilver frank was a third of the gold one; this coin is long out of uſe, though the term is ſtill retained as the name of a money of account; in which ſenſe it is equivalent to the livre, or twenty ſols.

   1771, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1st ed., Vol. II, p. 630

plural Franks

1. One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that inhabited parts of what are now France, the Low Countries and Germany.
2. Frenchman.

1. A male given name from the Germanic languages.

   Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank! why art thou melancholy?

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

2. A diminutive of the male given name Francis.

   Your name is Francis, is it? Frank, sir. Your name is Francis. There was never a St. Frank. That's a name for gangsters and politicians.

   1996, Frank McCourt, chapter VII, in Angela's Ashes, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 197

   1 more example

   But Frank Fairbanks, a retired public administrator, had to sheepishly acknowledge that he had grass. “Unfortunately, like many of our central Phoenix neighbors, we have a green lawn which consumes more water than xeriscape,” he told the paper.

   2011 April 9, Marc Lacey, “Spraying to Make Yards Green ... but With Paint, Not Water”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2020

3. A surname transferred from the nickname.
4. A place name:
   1. A community in Crowsnest Pass municipality, south-west Alberta, Canada.
   2. An unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States.
   3. A census-designated place in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.