Definition of "frank" in Englisch

adjective

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

   • May I be frank with you?

2. (medicine) 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.

4. (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.

5. (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.

noun

1. (uncountable) 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. (countable) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.

verb

1. (transitive) To place a frank on an envelope.

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.

   • 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.

noun

1. A hot dog or sausage.

   • Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.

noun

1. (UK) The grey heron.

noun

1. A pigsty.

verb

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

noun

1. (historical) Obsolete form of franc, former French coins, moneys of account, and currency.

   • 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.