= Solution
A physical link can deliver a continuous stream of <bits>; the <data link layer> needs to identify where each separately meaningful unit begins and ends. <Framing> supplies those boundaries, so the receiver can separate the <data-link frame> header, data and checking information, associate an <error detection and correction> result with a particular <data-link frame>, and regain alignment after damaged input.
Timing the individual <bits> is insufficient: knowing where each <bit> begins does not tell the receiver which <bit> starts a new <data-link frame>. Thus
$$
\boxed{\text{framing partitions a bit stream into recognizable data-link units}.}
$$
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