frank

Adjective

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. Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.
   • The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.
3. (obsolete) Unbounded 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. (obsolete) Liberal; 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. (derogatory, obsolete) Unrestrained; 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

Noun (1)

frank (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.
   • 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...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...

Verb (1)

frank (third-person singular simple present franks, present participle franking, simple past and past participle franked)

1. (transitive) To 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. (transitive) To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
3. (transitive) To send by public conveyance free of expense.
   • 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.1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words

Noun (2)

frank (plural franks)

1. A hot dog or sausage.
   • Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   frankfurt, frankfurter

Noun (3)

frank (plural franks)

1. (UK) The grey heron.

Noun (4)

frank (plural franks)

1. A pigsty.

Verb (2)

frank (third-person singular simple present franks, present participle franking, simple past and past participle 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 painsc. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

Noun (5) capitalized: Frank

IPA/ˈfɹæŋk/US/ˈfɹeɪ̯ŋk/

Frank (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.

Proper noun capitalized: Frank

IPA/ˈfɹæŋk/US/ˈfɹeɪ̯ŋk/

Frank

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]...
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
   • 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 community in Crowsnest Pass municipality, south-west Alberta, Canada.
5. An unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States.
6. A census-designated place in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.