Friend

What makes a friend? The dictonary describes a friend as the following:
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
I think a friend should have a deeper meaning.
In my opinion, a friend is someone whom you keep in contact with at least once a month at minimum. Someone whom you get together with at least more then once a year. Someone whom would call you if they knew you were having a rough time or even just drop a note in the mail. Do people no longer have friends like that? Do you have to be considered a close or best friend for people to take time for people they consider friends?
Can the mere fact that you know a person really classify them as a friend? Is that really all it takes to call someone friend? Am I living in a make-believe world, or did friendship used to mean more than that??