frank

See also: Frank

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɹæŋk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /fɹeɪŋk/
• Rhymes: -æŋk
• Homophones: franc, Frank

Etymology 1

From Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks.

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?

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.
   • Spenser

     It is of frank gift.

4. (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.
   • L'Estrange

     Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Translations

bluntly honest

• Arabic: please add this translation if you can
• Bulgarian: искрен (bg) (iskren)
• Catalan: franc (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: upřímný (cs) m
• Dutch: eerlijk (nl), open (nl), oprecht (nl), openhartig (nl)
• Esperanto: malkaŝa, malkaŝema
• Finnish: suora (fi)
• French: franc (fr)
• German: ehrlich (de), offen (de), aufrichtig (de)*
• Hebrew: כן‎‎ (he) (ken), גלוי-לב‎‎ (glúi-lev)
• Hungarian: nyílt (hu), őszinte (hu)

• Irish: oscailteach
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Latvian: atklāts m, impf
• Norman: franc
• Norwegian: frank
• Portuguese: franco (pt) m
• Russian: открове́нный (ru) (otkrovénnyj), и́скренний (ru) (ískrennij)
• Spanish: franco (es) m
• Swedish: uppriktig (sv), rättfram (sv)
• Tagalog: prangka
• Volapük: stedälik (vo)

Noun

frank (plural franks)

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

     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

US franking mark

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

1. To place a frank on an envelope.
   • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 20

     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?

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)

Translations

to place a frank on an envelope

• Dutch: frankeren (nl)
• Finnish: frankeerata (fi)

• Swedish: frankera (sv)

Etymology 2

Shortened form of frankfurter.

A frank on a bun.

Noun

frank (plural franks)

1. A hot dog or sausage.

   Synonyms: frankfurt, frankfurter

   Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.

   • 1978, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Superman: The Movie:

     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!

Related terms

• cocktail frank

See also

• sav
• savaloy

Etymology 3

Noun

frank (plural franks)

1. (Britain) The grey heron.

Etymology 4

From Old French franc.

Noun

frank (plural franks)

1. A pigsty.

Verb

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.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

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Czech

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aŋk

Noun

frank m

1. franc

Further reading

• frank in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• frank in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

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Estonian

Noun

frank (genitive [please provide], partitive [please provide])

1. franc

Declension

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

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Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /frank/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

frank m anim

1. franc

Usage notes

Unqualified modern usage typically refers to the Swiss franc.

Declension

declension of frank

	singular	plural
nominative	frank	franki
genitive	franka	franków
dative	frankowi	frankom
accusative	franka	franki
instrumental	frankiem	frankami
locative	franku	frankach
vocative	franku	franki