picture frame

/ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm/

//ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm// noun

"picture-frame" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“picture frame” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The frame into which a picture is placed.

Corpus desk

Index EN-picture-frame · picture frame · English

picture frame · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 13 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "P" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for picture frame
PropertyValue
Headwordpicture frame
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “picture frame” in English

picture frameranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

picture frame is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "The frame into which a picture is placed.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for picture frame, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: Compound of picture + frame. The correct English form is picture frame, spelled P-I-C-T-U-R-E- -F-R-A-M-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The frame into which a picture is placed.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how picture frame appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. He pulled a picture frame to one side, revealing a safe behind. Chang pressed four buttons on the keypad… …and the safe door whirred open.

Etymology

Compound of picture + frame.

Synonyms

photo frame

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "picture frame"?
"picture frame" is spelled P-I-C-T-U-R-E- -F-R-A-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm/.
What does "picture frame" mean?
As a noun, "picture frame" means: The frame into which a picture is placed.
How do you pronounce "picture frame"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "picture frame" is /ˈpɪktʃə ˌfɹeɪm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "picture frame"?
Compound of picture + frame. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list