Backgroundadjective
Less important in a scene.
âbackground noise.â;
Backgroundnoun
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
âThe lawyer had a background in computer science.â;
Backgroundnoun
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
Backgroundnoun
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
Backgroundnoun
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
âThere was tons of noise in the background.â; âThe photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.â;
Backgroundnoun
(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
Backgroundnoun
(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
âThe antivirus program is running in the background.â;
Backgroundverb
To put in a position that is not prominent.
Backgroundverb
(journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).
Backgroundnoun
Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
Backgroundnoun
The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.
Backgroundnoun
Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.
Backgroundnoun
A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
âI fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished . . . performance.â; âA husband somewhere in the background.â;
Backgroundnoun
The set of conditions within which an action takes place, including the social and physical conditions as well as the psychological states of the participants; as, within the background of the massive budget deficits of the 1980's, new spending programs had little chance of passage by the congress.
Backgroundnoun
The set of conditions that precede and affect an action, such as the social and historical precedents for the event, as well as the general background{5}; as, against the background of their expulsion by the Serbs, the desire of Kosovars for vengeance is understandable though regrettable.
Backgroundnoun
The signals that may be detected by a measurement which are not due to the phenomenon being studied, and tend to make the measurement uncertain to a greater or lesser degree.
Backgroundnoun
An agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that the name of the interviewee will not be quoted in any publication, although the substance of the remarks may be reported; - often used in the phrase "on background". Compare deep background.
Backgroundnoun
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training;
âhe is a lawyer with a sports backgroundâ;
Backgroundnoun
the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground;
âhe posed her against a background of rolling hillsâ;
Backgroundnoun
information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem;
âthe embassy filled him in on the background of the incidentâ;
Backgroundnoun
extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured;
âthey got a bad connection and could hardly hear one another over the background signalsâ;
Backgroundnoun
relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation;
âwhen the rain came he could hear the sound of thunder in the backgroundâ;
Backgroundnoun
the state of the environment in which a situation exists;
âyou can't do that in a university settingâ;
Backgroundnoun
(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear
Backgroundnoun
scenery hung at back of stage
Backgroundverb
understate the importance or quality of;
âhe played down his royal ancestryâ;
Backgroundnoun
the part of a picture, scene, or design that forms a setting for the main figures or objects, or appears furthest from the viewer
âthe word is written in white on a red backgroundâ; âthe house stands against a background of sheltering treesâ;
Backgroundnoun
a less important or conspicuous position or function
âafter that evening, she remained in the backgroundâ;
Backgroundnoun
used in reference to tasks or processes that do not need input from the user
âprograms can be left running in the backgroundâ;
Backgroundnoun
low-intensity radiation from radioisotopes present in the natural environment.
Backgroundnoun
unwanted signals, such as noise in the reception or recording of sound.
Backgroundnoun
the circumstances or situation prevailing at a particular time or underlying a particular event
âthe political and economic backgroundâ; âbackground informationâ;
Backgroundnoun
a person's education, experience, and social circumstances
âshe has a background in nursingâ; âher voice suggested a tenacious, working-class backgroundâ;
Backgroundverb
form a background to
âwindswept land backgrounded by the Rockiesâ;
Backgroundverb
provide with background
âthe embassy backgrounded American reportersâ;