2 VERB If a company franchises its business, it sells franchises to other companies, allowing them to sell its goods or services. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] She has recently franchised her business. □ [V -ed] It takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to get into the franchised pizza business. ● fran|chis|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ An important aspect of franchising is the reduced risk of business failure it offers to franchisees.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] Franchise is the right to vote in an election, especially one in which people elect a parliament. □ …the introduction of universal franchise. □ The 1867 Reform Act extended the franchise to much of the male working class.
fran|chi|see /fræ ntʃa I ziː / (franchisees ) N‑COUNT A franchisee is a person or group of people who buy a particular franchise. [BUSINESS ]
fran|chi|ser /fræ ntʃa I zə r / (franchisers ) N‑COUNT A franchiser is an organization which sells franchises. [BUSINESS ]
PREFIX Franco-
occurs in words connected with France and the French language. For example, a Francophile is someone who likes France and French culture. For example, the Franco-German border is the border between France and Germany.
Fran|co|phone /fræ ŋkoʊfoʊn/ (Francophones ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Francophone is someone who speaks French, especially someone who speaks it as their first language. [FORMAL ]
frank /fræ ŋk/ (franker , frankest , franks , franking , franked )
1 ADJ If someone is frank , they state or express things in an open and honest way. □ [+ about/with ] 'It is clear that my client has been less than frank with me,' said his lawyer. □ They had a frank discussion about the issue. ● frank|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He now frankly admits that much of his former playboy lifestyle was superficial. ● frank|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ The reaction to his frankness was hostile.
2 VERB [usu passive] When a letter or parcel is franked , it is marked with a symbol that shows that the proper charge has been paid or that no stamp is needed. □ [be V -ed] The letter was franked in London on August 6. □ [V -ed] …a self-addressed, franked envelope.
frank|fur|ter /fræ ŋkfɜː r tə r / (frankfurters ) N‑COUNT A frankfurter is a type of smoked sausage.
frank|in|cense /fræ ŋk I nsens/ N‑UNCOUNT Frankincense is a substance which is obtained from a tree and which smells pleasant when it is burned. It is used especially in religious ceremonies.
frank|ly /fræ ŋkli/
1 ADV [ADV adj/-ed] You use frankly when you are expressing an opinion or feeling to emphasize that you mean what you are saying, especially when the person you are speaking to may not like it. [EMPHASIS ] □ 'You don't give a damn about my feelings, do you.'—'Quite frankly, I don't.'. □ Frankly, Thomas, this question of your loan is beginning to worry me.
2 → see also frank
fran|tic /fræ nt I k/
1 ADJ If you are frantic , you are behaving in a wild and uncontrolled way because you are frightened or worried. □ A bird had been locked in and was by now quite frantic. ● fran|ti|cal|ly /fræ nt I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ She clutched frantically at Emily's arm.
2 ADJ If an activity is frantic , things are done quickly and in an energetic but disorganized way, because there is very little time. □ A busy night in the restaurant can be frantic in the kitchen. ● fran|ti|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ We have been frantically trying to save her life.
frape /fre I p/ (frapes , fraping , fraped ) VERB If someone frapes you, they add comments or pictures on your page of a social networking website without your permission. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Her status update was fraped.
fra|ter|nal /frətɜː r n ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fraternal actions show strong links of friendship between two people or groups of people. [FORMAL ] □ …the fraternal assistance of our colleagues and comrades.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fraternal twins are twins born from two eggs, so they are not exactly the same. They look different from each other and may be different sexes.
fra|ter|nity /frətɜː r n I ti/ (fraternities )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fraternity refers to friendship and support between people who feel they are closely linked to each other. [FORMAL ] □ Bob needs the fraternity of others who share his mission.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to people who have the same profession or the same interests as a particular fraternity . □ …the spread of stolen guns among the criminal fraternity. □ …the sailing fraternity.
3 N‑COUNT In the United States, a fraternity is a society of male university or college students.
frat|er|nize /fræ tə r na I z/ (fraternizes , fraternizing , fraternized ) in BRIT, also use fraternise VERB If you fraternize with someone, you associate with them in a friendly way. □ [V + with ] At these conventions, executives fraternized with the key personnel of other banks. □ [V ] Mrs Zuckerman does not fraternize widely. □ [V ] In the recession, disparate groups have fraternised in an atmosphere of mutual support.
frat|ri|cid|al /fræ tr I sa I d ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] A fratricidal war or conflict is one in which people kill members of their own society or social group. [FORMAL ]
frat|ri|cide /fræ tr I sa I d/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone commits fratricide , they kill their brother. [FORMAL ]
fraud ◆◇◇ /frɔː d/ (frauds )